Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
Shillong, February 07 2010:
Assam Rifles will deploy its independent intelligence unit along the Myanmar border by May this year, its director general Lt Gen KS Yadava said today.
"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, the border will get a major boost once the intelligence unit is deployed.
"The unit will have around 200 men besides 27 officers picked from the organization," he said.
He also informed that by 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.