Aizawl, Feb. 12: The 1st Assam Rifles (Lushai Hills) battalion has found a champion in the state branch of the Public Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), in face of the home ministry threat to pull it out of Mizoram.
In a letter to deputy chief minister L.K. Advani, who holds the home portfolio, the PUCL outlined the battalion?s history and said it was the true symbol of nationhood to the Mizo people.
Explaining the role of Laldenga, the late founder of the Mizo National Front (MNF), in the steps taken towards the removal of the 1st Assam Rifles from the state, the PUCL said Laldenga had taken the incentive because it had borne the brunt of India?s retaliation to his rebellion through this paramilitary battalion.
Mentioning the dangers posed by militants to the state, the PUCL said only the 1st Assam Rifles was competent enough to look after the people of Mizoram. It appealed to the home ministry to reconsider its plan to remove the 1st Assam Rifles battalion, the PUCL said the battalion was used to the terrain, had won the confidence of the Mizo people, was the only effective force that could deal with any untoward event and situation and was thus indispensable.
The letter implored Advani to cancel the plan to replace the 1st Assam Rifles with the 8th Assam Rifles battalion.
The 1st Assam Rifles (Lushai Hills) battalion was established in 1850. It has been in the state, then known as Lushai Hills, since 1935. Initially, it acted as military police for the erstwhile British rulers.
It bore the brunt of the MNF attack during the early years of rebellion from 1966 and proved itself quite capable of dealing with militants. It also helped other forces in the state during the two decades of insurgency ? from 1966 to 1986.