കേരള പോലീസിന്റെ അർദ്ധസൈനിക വിഭാഗമാണ്‌ മലബാർ സ്പെഷ്യൽ പോലീസ് (MSP.). ബ്രിട്ടീഷ്‌ ഭരണകാലത്ത്‌ മലബാറിലുണ്ടായ അസ്വസ്ഥതകൾ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നതിനു വേണ്ടി 1881-ൽമലപ്പുറം സ്പെഷ്യൽ പോലീസ് സ്ഥാപിതമായി. പിന്നീട്‌ 1921-ൽ മലബാർ കലാപം പൊട്ടിപ്പുറപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ അത്‌ അമർച്ച ചെയ്യുന്നതിനു വേണ്ടി മലപ്പുറം സ്പെഷ്യൽ പോലീസ്, പുന:സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുകയും മലബാർ സ്പെഷ്യൽ പോലീസ് (MSP) എന്ന് പുനർ നാമകരണം ചെയ്യപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്തു. എം.എസ്സ്‌.പിയുടെ ആദ്യത്തെ കമാന്റന്റ് റിച്ചാദഡ് ഹോവദഡ് ഹിച്ച്‌കോക്ക് ആയിരുന്നു.
സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യസമരം അടിച്ചമർത്താൻ വേണ്ടി ബ്രിട്ടീഷ്‌ സർക്കാർ ആരംഭിച്ച ഈ സേന സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യലബ്ദിക്കു ശേഷം സേവനത്തിന്റെയും സംരക്ഷണത്തിന്റെയും പുതിയ പന്ഥാവിലേക്ക്‌ തിരിഞ്ഞു. 1947 നു ശേഷം മദ്രാസ്‌ ആസ്ഥാനമായ എം.എസ്സ്‌.പി യുടെ 2 ആം ബറ്റാലിയൻ തമിഴ്‌നാട്‌ പോലീസിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി. സൈന്യത്തോടൊപ്പം അതിർത്തിയിലും 60-കളിൽ നാഗാലാന്റിലും എം.എസ്സ്‌.പി. സേവനം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്‌
The Malabar Special
Police (MSP) is a paramilitary unit of the State Police of Kerala. This unit
also trains new recruits and also helps the local police units to maintain law
and order during emergencies. During emergencies, this unit forms the riot
police platoons fully equipped with riot gear. This Police unit is known for
its extraordinary tough training, and the high quality of its firing and
military drills.
History
Since its inception,
the MSP has successfully overcome all limitations and established itself as a
crack corps. The beginnings of this Force are to be found in the Nayar sibbandy
Corps raised under native chieftains towards the end of the 18th century. The
Nayar Sibbandy Corps were developed to overawe the Moplahs. Later their place
was taken up by a Force of 500 armed police men raised mainly for the purpose
of collecting revenue. The Force suppressed a gang of Moplah fanatics, who
settled in Chembrasseri
Village. The MSP was made
permanent in 1897. The Malapuram Special Force armed with Martin Henri Single-
Shot rifles proved insufficient before the guerilla tactics adopted by the
rebels. Nevertheless the members of this Force brought lasting fame to their
organisation. The Government in on 30th September, 1921 sanctioned a strength
of 6 British Officers, 8 Subedars, 16 Jamadars, 60 Havildars and 600 Constables
to be formed into companies of Auxillary Police. This was later called the
Malabar Special Police. The Force was officered by an Indian Civil Service
officer, a probationary Assistant Superintendent of Police and demobilized
officers of the British Army. The recruits were sent to Cannanore for training.
The MSP successfully handled all the different tactics of the rebels and
suppressed them. Its fame as expertise in guerilla warfare spread outside the
state. Many agencies outside the state made use of them. Mr.Happel who later
became the Inspector General of Police said of them, “Their discipline and
general behaviour were excellent, they marched admirably, and inspite of
frequent attacks of fever and the greatest hardships, there was never any
grumbling" . In action they showed splendid dash and a complete disregard
for danger.
The MSP was
specially formed to deal with the social unrest in the region. The Headquarters
of this battalion is at Malappuram. Hitchcock himself was the first Commandant.
In 1932, the MSP was reorganised as 4 companies. The strength was increased to
16 companies during the Second World War. After the MSP strike in 1946, the
number was reduced to 12 companies. At the formation of the Kerala State,
6 MSP companies were handed over to Madras
State and the remaining 6
companies were retained in the Kerala Police. In 1957, 3 more companies were
added to MSP during the Vimochana Samaram. The total present strength of Malabar
Special Police is 7 companies. In addition to the facilities of armed training
, the battalion has a motor vehicle workshop. At present newly recruited
drivers are given training at this workshop. A central library and a computer
centre are part of this battalion, apart from a prestigious school.
The Malabar Special
Police was alloted a new wave length for wireless work and this was the first
Police Organization in the Madras State utilizing wireless for operational
purposes.Officers and men of the MSP have won no less than seventeen King's
Police, President's Police and Indian Police medals, of which 8 have been for
gallantry and 9 for meritorious service