AR to man Indo-Myanmar border

Imphal, July 03: To meet the threat posed on the Indian border by neighboring countries and to strengthen the vigilance on the border area, a Ministerial group has charted out a policy christened 'One border, one force.' Under this policy Assam Rifles personnel will be given the responsibility to keep vigil over the 1200 km long Indo-Myanmar border. The Pakistan and Bangladesh border are manned by BSF, SSB Nepal border, China border is under the vigil of the ITBP and the Line of Control is watched by the Indian Army. Disclosing this during an informal chat with media persons, Assam Rifles DIG Brigadier EJ Kochekkan said that along with the sharp vigil over the Indo-Myanmar border, Assam Rifles personnel will be engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the North East region. Giving his version of what constitutes achievement Kochekkan said achievement of any sort should always mean peace not only for the security personnel but also for the general population. The Brigadier further said that Assam Rifles troops are presently deployed in the four valley districts and in Churachandpur and Chandel districts. He also said that coordination between the different security forces have considerably improved. Following the agreement reached at the State Security Coordination Committee meeting, co-ordination and sharing of intelligence information between the different security force have improved immensely, he added. The 57 Mountain Division and the 3 Corps had to be shifted from Manipur during the Kargil conflict, informed the Brigadier adding that since then the Army and Assam Rifles have been conducting counter-insurgency operations here. The strength of the security force deployed in the State is enough, he added. According to another highly placed source, the Assam Rifles unit and Army deployed in Manipur for counter-insurgency operations have been placed under the operational command of the GOC, North East Counter Insurgency Force, Rangapahar. While the Administrative Command is under the DG of Assam Rifles at Shillong the Operational command is under the Army. On the administrative aspect of Assam Rifles, the Brigadier said that promotion scheme for AR personnel have been formulated. Under IGNOU 41 study centres have been opened at AR camps, he further said.