Assam Rifles to be expanded

NEW DELHI, March 3: Assam Rifles will be expanded to take some pressure off the Army, heavily involved in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast. A decision has been taken to raise about six battalions of the Assam Rifles, and the raising is already in process, Army officials said. Despite recent talks on ceasefire, Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast are still disturbed zones. In some states, the situation is deteriorating. Raising the Assam Rifles is likely to ensure that the Army gets some relief. Involvement of local people would help in gathering information. Moreover, they will have better knowledge of the terrain and the local languages. It would ensure that several thousand young men get proper jobs, and not fall prey to insurgent organisations. The Army is heavily involved in counter-insurgency operations in most of the Northeastern states, and the presence of more Assam Rifles battalions will take a lot of pressure off it. At the moment there are about 25 Assam Rifles battalions, mostly in the Northeast, though one or two have served in Jammu and Kashmir as well.