The Special Action Force (SAF) is a specialized anti-riot and emergency response force formed under the Gujarat Police. The force was established in February 2024 to control communal riots, maintain public order during civil unrest and respond quickly to emerging law and order situations across the state.[1][2]
The idea of a Special Action Force was officially announced by Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi during the Budget Session of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 21 February 2024.[3][4] The unit was formed in response to growing concerns about communal unrest and based on the model of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) of the Central Reserve Police Force operating at the national level.[5]
The SAF has been formed from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) unit of Gujarat Police into two companies, Group-2 Ahmedabad and Group-11 Surat, whose personnel have been given advanced training in riot control and emergency response, which equips them to deal with outbreaks of violence and public unrest quickly and efficiently.
Objectives
The main objectives of the Special Action Force are:
Maintaining peace and public order during communal riots, protests and violent demonstrations.
Providing special assistance to local police units in handling emergency situations.
Enhance the overall riot-control capabilities of Gujarat Police through modern methods and equipment.
Organizational structure
The Special Action Force currently operates as a specialized unit under the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) of Gujarat. The unit is operational in SRPF Group-2 Ahmedabad and Group-11 Surat, with plans to expand to other regions of Gujarat based on operational requirements.
Training and equipment
Personnel involved in the Special Action Force have been given advanced training in riot control and maintaining public order, including:
SAF Uniform
Crowd management and crowd control techniques Use of non-lethal weapons
Incident-counter-attack and defensive tactics
Rescue operations in public disorder situations
Rapid response strategies
The training curriculum is imparted at the RAPO Meerut training centre on the lines of the Rapid Action Force of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), ensuring a professional and effective force in the state police system.
This unit operates with a dedicated command and control system for real-time deployment and coordination during emergencies.
Similar forces from different states
The Gujarat SAF follows a model similar to the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at the national level and is comparable to specialized state-level forces such as the Karnataka Police's Special Action Force (SAF), which was operationalized in June 2025 to manage communal conflicts in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi regions.
↑ ગૃહ વિભાગનું ૨૦૨૪-૨૦૨૫ના વર્ષ માટેનું અંદાજપત[Budget Estimates of Home Department for 2024–2025] (in Gujarati) (12ed.). Government of Gujarat. February 2, 2024.
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