WAYANAD: The All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) ‘Ranger crew 800’ purchased by Thunderbolt for jungle raids has been left idle at the Vellamunda police station even though the commandos are doing a combing operation in the jungles.

Police officials say they seldom use it as only a few have the expertise to handle the hi-tech vehicle.

It is to be recalled that the four US made ATVs purchased for the state came along with a package of several communication gadgets, protective equipment, weapons, vehicles and anti-sabotage equipment for which the government had sanctioned Rs 11.5 crore in April, 2013.

Apart from Wayanad, one vehicle each has been allotted to Malappuram and Kannur districts. One vehicle has been allotted to Thiruvananthapuram.

‘Thunderbolts’, the Special Task Force constituted for Maoist raids in the jungle zones of Malabar, is an elite commando force of the state police with 160-members and is capable of combating all kinds of terror strikes, according to police.

Formed in August 2013, the commandos, all in the age group of 18 to 20, have completed 18 months of rigorous training at various elite institutions across the country.