SHILLONG: The Assam Rifles celebrated its 179th Raising Day on Monday. To mark the occasion a solemn ceremony was held at the Headquarters of the Directorate General of Assam Rifles, Laitkor, Shillong.
The programme began with the Director General of Assam Rifles and all officers paying homage to the valiant martyrs at the War Memorial. This was followed by a Special Sainik Sammelan which culminated with a community meal wherein retired Assam Rifles personnel were special invitees. Raised in 1835, with just 750 Combatants, the Assam Rifles today has metamorphosed into 46 battalions and is the oldest paramilitary force of the country, which also has the distinction of being the highest decorated one.
The long saga of the force is seamlessly associated with the history and development of the North Eastern Region; giving rise to the common trend of the force being called as ‘Friends of the North East People’.
The Raising Day function was attended by Governor Dr. K. K. Paul, Chief Justice of High Court of Meghalaya, Justice P.C. Pant, Director General of Police PJP Hanaman, besides a number of senior officers from the Army, Air Force and other Central Armed Police Forces.