Shillong: Assam Rifles will deploy its
independent intelligence unit along the Myanmar border by May
this year, its Director General Lt Gen KS Yadava said on Sunday.
"The field intelligence unit is already through and its
raising has started. We hope to put it in place by May this
year," he told reporters here.
Lt Gen Yadava said Assam Rifles being the lead
intelligence agency of the Myanmar border will get a major
boost once the intelligence unit is deployed along the Myanmar
border.
"The unit will have around 200 men besides 27 officers
picked from the organization," he said.
He also informed that by the end of this year the process
of raising 26 new battalions will start.
"Every year, we plan to raise 2/3 battalions. Two commando
battalions will also be a part of the raisings," he said.
One of the commando battalion will be deployed in Manipur
and would have special uniform and weaponry and will be "as
good as any other commando force in the country."
"They will be trained by all expert forces in the country.
The battalions will lend a potent force to the North East,"
Yadava said.
Raised as a "militia" by the British in 1835 to protest
their interests in the region, the 60,000-strong paramilitary
force is now deployed in Manipur, Indo-Myanmar border and some
other states of the region for counter-insurgency operations.
PTI
