Key Facts about Assam Rifles, Latest News

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Assam Rifles Latest News

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently announced the relocation of Assam Rifles battalions to Mizoram.

Assam Rifles is one of the six Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that come under the MHA’s administrative control.
It conducts counterinsurgency operations in north-eastern India and other areas where deemed necessary.
Its operational control is with the Indian Army, with an officer of the rank of Lieutenant General commanding the force.
The headquarters of the Director-General of Assam Rifles (DGAR) is in Shillong unlike other Central paramilitary forces, all of which have their headquarters in New Delhi.

Assam Rifles has its origins in 1835 as a militia called the ‘Cachar Levy’ to protect British tea estates and their settlements against tribal raids.
It later became the ‘Frontier Force’ conducting punitive expeditions across the borders of Assam.
In 1870, the existing elements were merged into three Assam Military Police Battalions, sending over 3,000 men as part of the British Army to Europe and West Asia.
In 1917, the name was changed to Assam Rifles.
The force has evolved post-Independence, from combat roles during the Sino-India War 1962 to being a part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka in 1987, besides performing peacekeeping roles in north-eastern India. From 17 battalions in 1960 it has grown to 46 battalions today.