In a rare move, close to 1,500 troops of Assam Rifles will be moving out of the force’s core area and deployed in Jammu, which is witnessing terror attacks. According to an official, this will be the first time when the force, known as “a friend of the Northeast”, will be deployed in Jammu and may have a small base in J&K soon.
The Assam Rifles comes under the ministry of home affairs but operates under the operational control of the Indian Army. The force is staffed by Indian Army officials and is headed by a lieutenant general as the director general.
This will be the first time that two forces, Rashtriya Rifles and Assam Rifles, under the control of the Indian Army will be deployed in Jammu. Troops will be drawn from Manipur, where the Central Reserve Police Force will take over the operational area of the Assam Rifles. Two battalions will be deployed in Churachandpur, replacing the Assam Rifles.
While Kuki groups are opposing this development, the government has decided to proceed with the changes in deployment. On the other hand, Meitei groups have alleged that the Assam Rifles favours the Kukis and should be withdrawn from parts of Manipur.
Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera on Wednesday took over as the 22nd director general of the Assam Rifles, known by the sobriquet “Sentinels of the Northeast”. He has varied and rich professional experience of Assam Rifles and the Northeast region, having served extensively there, including being inspector general in Assam Rifles in Nagaland.
Assam Rifles remains deployed in some of the most remote and underdeveloped areas, providing security to locals. “The Assam Rifles has grown substantially over the years, from 17 battalions in 1960 to 46 battalions at present. The force also has a training centre and several logistics units. Through its long deployment in the tribal belt, the Assam Rifles has earned the complete confidence of the locals and has helped significantly in bringing the people of this region into the national mainstream,” the force states.
Comments
0 comment