59 Cobra commandos go AWOL in India

The unarmed recruits were part of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra), a team of elites within the CRPF. They were returning via train from a five-week training session in Jammu and Kashmir. The incident took place on Sunday at Mughalsarai rail station in Uttar Pradesh where they got off the train and set off for their homes. The commander in charge of the contingent was onboard as well, but was reportedly unaware of his men slipping away.

59 Indian Commandos disappeared from the train. They were being sent to Bihar for some operation but they bunkedhttps://t.co/iQ2ZJhuNr8

— Anam J. Cheema (@AnamCheema_) February 7, 2017

According to the Times of India, most of the 59 deserters were residents of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The CRPF has ordered an inquiry to discover why the recruits did not report for duty in Bihar on February 7. CRPF Director General K Durga Prasad said he has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the incident.

59 so called Cobra bn Cdos went AWOL enroute to Bihar after trg & their IPS DG says it is Not desertion then what it is ? punish them jokers — Brig Arun Bajpai (@ArunBajpai) February 7, 2017

In the aftermath of the escape, the CRPF claimed that the 59 personnel had been training for six months and arrived earlier than they were scheduled. The CRPF also claimed the recruits had taken the weekend off to visit their families without informing the authorities. How the 59 highly-trained Cobra commandos managed to slip away without raising an alarm has yet to be disclosed by the authorities.