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To counter China and bolster Indias counter-insurgency grid in the North-East, the Army plans to move thousands of jawans of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) from Kashmir.
In the first phase, nearly 5,000 jawans and officers (five battalions), specialized in counter-insurgency operations, will be shifted from Kashmir Valley to the N-E. The issue was discussed between Defence Minister AK Antony and Army Chief General Bikram Singh here on Monday.
This major step comes along side the Government speeding up construction of 20 strategic roads in the North-East, repairing and upgrading 25 airfields and building advanced landing grounds and helipads in inaccessible areas.
These measures will ensure round-the-year logistical support to the troops manning the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the Chinese have a vastly superior military infrastructure including roads right up to the LAC, nearly 10,000 kilometre of rail network in Tibetan plateau and airfields.
At present, 63 battalions are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir while two battalions are doing duty in the North-East. With security situation improving in Kashmir and violence levels petering out somewhat, security forces including the Army are not averse to drawing out some of their battalions without hampering the overall operational matrix. Moreover, the State Government has often demanded thinning out the presence of the Army.
The growing military capabilities of China and the some North-East insurgent groups getting backing from Beijing, has forced the Government to increase Army presence in N-E region, sources said.
The issue of force accrual in the North-East sector in the backdrop of Chinese threat was one of the main topics of discussion when Antony reviewed operational preparedness and modernization of the Army with General Bikram Singh here on Monday.
Sources said the Army may move five battalions of the RR to N-E in the first instance. More will follow later. Once shifted to the North-East, besides counter-insurgency operations, these units will also support the Armys plan to strengthen its presence by having a China-specific mountain strike corps, officials said.
Explaining this factor, they said the Rashtriya Rifles soldiers are trained soldiers and, if need be, can revert to conventional war in the shortest possible time while deployed in the eastern theatre.
Elaborating upon the plan to relocate Rashtriya Rifles battalions from Kashmir to the North East, sources said the Army will have little problem in doing so as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in force in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya.
It means that the Rashtriya Rifles, now operating under the AFSPA cover in Kashmir, will have no difficulty in adjusting to the North-East. Moreover, the presence of 63 battalions of this force in Kashmir is posing a problem of accommodation due to shortage of space, and relocation to the North East will be a smooth transition, sources said.
Raised in 1992 as a dedicated counter-insurgency force, the Rashtriya Rifles comprises officers and jawans drawn from various Army units like infantry, artillery and armoured corps. The personnel usually serve a stint of two years in the Rashtriya Rifles and then go back to their parent units.
The Rashtriya Rifles operates in Kashmir hinterland and forms the second tier of offensive patrol near the 750-km long Line of Control(LOC) guarded by regular infantry units.
J&K calm; Rashtriya Rifles to take N-E job
In the first phase, nearly 5,000 jawans and officers (five battalions), specialized in counter-insurgency operations, will be shifted from Kashmir Valley to the N-E. The issue was discussed between Defence Minister AK Antony and Army Chief General Bikram Singh here on Monday.
This major step comes along side the Government speeding up construction of 20 strategic roads in the North-East, repairing and upgrading 25 airfields and building advanced landing grounds and helipads in inaccessible areas.
These measures will ensure round-the-year logistical support to the troops manning the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as the Chinese have a vastly superior military infrastructure including roads right up to the LAC, nearly 10,000 kilometre of rail network in Tibetan plateau and airfields.
At present, 63 battalions are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir while two battalions are doing duty in the North-East. With security situation improving in Kashmir and violence levels petering out somewhat, security forces including the Army are not averse to drawing out some of their battalions without hampering the overall operational matrix. Moreover, the State Government has often demanded thinning out the presence of the Army.
The growing military capabilities of China and the some North-East insurgent groups getting backing from Beijing, has forced the Government to increase Army presence in N-E region, sources said.
The issue of force accrual in the North-East sector in the backdrop of Chinese threat was one of the main topics of discussion when Antony reviewed operational preparedness and modernization of the Army with General Bikram Singh here on Monday.
Sources said the Army may move five battalions of the RR to N-E in the first instance. More will follow later. Once shifted to the North-East, besides counter-insurgency operations, these units will also support the Armys plan to strengthen its presence by having a China-specific mountain strike corps, officials said.
Explaining this factor, they said the Rashtriya Rifles soldiers are trained soldiers and, if need be, can revert to conventional war in the shortest possible time while deployed in the eastern theatre.
Elaborating upon the plan to relocate Rashtriya Rifles battalions from Kashmir to the North East, sources said the Army will have little problem in doing so as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in force in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya.
It means that the Rashtriya Rifles, now operating under the AFSPA cover in Kashmir, will have no difficulty in adjusting to the North-East. Moreover, the presence of 63 battalions of this force in Kashmir is posing a problem of accommodation due to shortage of space, and relocation to the North East will be a smooth transition, sources said.
Raised in 1992 as a dedicated counter-insurgency force, the Rashtriya Rifles comprises officers and jawans drawn from various Army units like infantry, artillery and armoured corps. The personnel usually serve a stint of two years in the Rashtriya Rifles and then go back to their parent units.
The Rashtriya Rifles operates in Kashmir hinterland and forms the second tier of offensive patrol near the 750-km long Line of Control(LOC) guarded by regular infantry units.
J&K calm; Rashtriya Rifles to take N-E job
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