By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Rameshwar Roy on Thursday made it clear that the force would not be removed from the border areas of India and Myanmar and there is very less chance that the force would be replaced by the Border Security Force (BSF).
Talking to media persons on Thursday Lt Gen Roy said, “The issue is being discussed but there is very less possibility that BSF will replace Assam Rifles.”
According to Rameshwar Roy, the oldest para-military force of the country has identified itself with the ground, the people and the terrain of the region.
It may be reminded that the Central Government was contemplating to deploy BSF along the Indo-Myanmar border, even though the Indian Army has maintained that Assam Rifles is much better suited to guard the 1,643-km long international border with Myanmar. The Assam Rifles is presently raising one Inspector General Assam Rifles sector in Silchar, Assam while three more sector headquarters are being raised in Haflong (Assam), Senapati (Manipur) and Dimapur (Nagaland).
AR team returns after Haiti mission
An Assam Rifles formed police contingent, which was deployed under a UN mission in Haiti for one year, was accorded a warm reception after their return to India on Thursday.
The group comprising of 160 personnel was deployed in Haiti on June 28 last year as part of a world peace-keeping force.
Impressed with the performance of the Assam Rifles contingent, DGAR Lt Gen Rameshwar Roy congratulated them on their brilliant work in the foreign country.
“The personnel should put to use their learnings and teachings in whichever place they will be posted,” Lt Gen Roy said while addressing the personnel at the Assam Rifles headquarters here on Thursday.
The UN mission in Haiti comprised of around 14,000 armed police and military personnel from 52 countries around the world.
“The contingent has brought laurels to the force and the country as a whole,” he further added.
During their stay in Haiti, the contingent distinguished itself in maintaining law and order besides aiding in relief and rehabilitation work for residents of Haiti which was hit by a devastating earthquake in January 2010.
The Assam Rifles team also played a significant role in conducting peaceful elections in Haiti last year.
The contingent was replaced by another formed police unit contingent from the para-military force on July 2 this year.