Assam Rifles (AR) is the oldest paramilitary force in
India
whose primary role is to protect part of
India
's Northeastern border. It also maintained law and order in the tribal areas of
Assam
, a role now being performed by to the police forces in the States and
Union
Territories
in
Northeastern India
.
Assam
Rifles
Public School
is a much sought after education institute in the North East.
The Assam Rifles was raised as the Cachar Levy, a semi-military force in 1835. Since then it has been used for extending administrative control over remote tribal areas in difficult conditions with at a nominal pecuniary cost. In 1917, it came to be known by its present name, in recognition of its contribution to the First World War. Later, it earned greater laurels in the Second World War and provided soldiers to the various British Indian Army Gurkha regiments, a process which resulted in permanent affiliations of the battalions of the AR to different groups of the Gorkhas.
The AR operations are characterized by their lack of any unfavourable post-operations fallout. They rely heavily on real-time intelligence and swift reactions against pinpoint targets and specific individuals. They are loath to follow the ham-handed ways of other forces, including the Army, which only strengthens the resolve of the dissidents apart from antagonizing the general public. They are used to privations and adept at improvisation, living off the land. They know the border areas of their deployment very well. Experts in water crossing expedients, braving the elements and long cross-country marches on a self contained basis, they lend themselves to their role as “the sentinels of the North East” as Major General DK Palit refers to them.
The AR units communicate on a reliable, quick-response, secure and efficient static radio grid. Their MT drivers are experts in driving on narrow hill tracks in different weather conditions, and manage to keep their large vehicle fleet in a road worthy condition. Soldiers are quite skilled in elementary civil engineering tasks like constructing living quarters and road building, including bridges. The troops are mature, hardy, weather beaten, courageous, and know how to get on with the job in hand. They have the added advantage of conversing in the local dialect – a definite asset in a counter insurgency situation. This capability of the AR is further augmented by presence of local recruits in units.
Prior to 1965, this force was under the Ministry of External Affairs who were looking after NEFA affairs. It was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs when the latter took over this responsibility. From a nominal complement of only five battalions in 1947, it has grown to 33 with several range HQs. A training center, and a number of logistics units function under the HQ DG AR, Shillong. The
Most of the Assam Rifles units are under the operational control of the Army. AR battalions are proficient in counter-insurgency operations, where (also in J&K) their performance has been better than those of the Army/Rashtriya Rifles. They are especially good in un-orthodox small-scale missions to seek and destroy/apprehend hostiles. The study of one such mission, code named Operation Zebra, successfully launched and executed by 19 AR, is included in the curriculum for training army infantry battalions being inducted for counter insurgency operations.
Organisation, leadership, equipment and training of the force are generally on the Army pattern; however, each battalion has a unique Peace Establishment (PE). It is mostly officered by officers provided by the Army on the same basis as for its own units. There are a fair number of ex-ECOs as also departmental promotes. AR commissioned JCOs lead at the sub-sub unit level. The AR draws its rank and file from the hill tribes of Northern /
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