M S Nazki
By M S Nazki
Quick thinking, quickly adjusting to the scenario prevailing and quickly adapting to the situation is what the Assam Rifles are accustomed to!
-From North East to Jammu and Kashmir the situation is slightly different!
-In the North East they have to tackle many borders in order to tame the impact of the insurgency but in J&K they have a huge role to play since Pakistan loves playing games!
-And it is still doing the same!
-Be it narco terror or the terror of arms and ammunition both ways it percolates through the vast border between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan!
-But the Assam Rifles have been trained to hold off this threat!
-Battalions of the Assam Rifles are well-known for their valour and self-sacrifice, but the story of an operation undertaken by 7 Assam Rifles is the most inspiring of them all.
-Operation Dudhi undertaken during its tenure in Jammu and Kashmir from 1989 to 1990 remains the most successful counterinsurgency operation conducted by any security force till date!
- The Battalion eliminated an astounding 72 militants and apprehended 13 in this operation. While this monumental feat is a familiar tale within the Assam Rifles now, 30 years later, the accomplishment of its brave soldiers is once again being shared with the masses.
-While the government and administration is doing a lot in J&K, the Indian Army too is silently but significantly contributing towards infrastructural development through “Operation Sadbhavana” (Goodwill). Its diverse initiatives have gone a long way in enhancing socio-economic standards in the region and impacting local communities positively.
-Through “Operation Sadbhavana”, the Indian Army has promoted infrastructure development in the border areas, spearheaded education and skill development initiatives, provided healthcare facilities and extended medical outreach, promoted tourism, provided economic opportunities, encouraged community engagement and welfare programs, etc.
-Besides this, the Army has also played an important role in improving road connectivity by constructing bridges and enhancing communication networks in remote and inaccessible areas. It remains committed towards facilitating easier access to border villages, enabling residents to connect with urban centers for essential services and economic opportunities. The development of communication networks has ensured connectivity and better coordination.
-In the field of education and enhancement of skills “Operation Sadbhavana” has proved to be the most effective and result-oriented initiative. Recognising the importance of education in fostering socio-economic progress, the Indian Army has prioritised promotion of literacy and skill development among J&K youth. Its initiatives in this regard include taking children on educational and cultural tours of Bharat, the establishment of schools and vocational training centers as well as introduction of scholarship programs for meritorious students from financially weak backgrounds.
-Army-run educational institutions have led the way in providing quality education to children living in remote areas, thereby bridging the gap between urban and rural education. Insofar as vocational training is concerned, courses for various trades are offered that provide the youth with a wide range of skills and enhance employability prospects.
-Army Goodwill Schools not only provide education, but also focus on holistic personality and character development, offering extracurricular activities, sports facilities, and career counseling to students. Indian Army-sponsored scholarship programs have allowed children from underprivileged sections of society to pursue higher education, thus, opening doors to better career prospects and economic advancement.
-The Army has also undertaken several initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure and provide medical assistance to needy locals. Army hospitals and medical camps serve as lifelines for communities located in far-flung areas, offering essential healthcare services and even emergency treatment. The Army’s “Operation Sadbhavana” also includes medical outreach programs that provide free mobile healthcare services to residents living in the remote villages of Jammu and Kashmir. Army medical camps in J&K have been instrumental in reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in the region.
-Army-led initiatives in J&K have also helped in enhancing its tourism potential. Activities like promotion of adventure sports and cultural festivals have drawn many foreign as well as domestic tourists. Developing the Siachen Glacier region as a tourist destination by the Indian Army has attracted a lot of attention as visitors can now experience its natural beauty and unique ecosystem under the guidance of trained personnel.
-By preventing Pakistan sponsored terrorists from creating mayhem in J&K, the Army has created a peaceful environment conducive to business and investment, paving the way for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
-In the northeastern part of India, the paramilitary Assam Rifles is pursuing civil engagement with the local populace on almost similar lines as that of the Indian Army in J&K. Some of its civic action programs include organising medical camps, tree-planting drives, empowering women self-help groups by providing requisite equipment and amenities as well as supporting local communities through development-oriented initiatives.
-Projects like “Clean and Green Nagaland,” that form part of the Assam Rifles extensive tree planting drive aimed at promoting environmental awareness and conservation through public awareness and participation. It is also assisting the local administration and the people by undertaking multifarious infrastructure development as well as promoting education and skill development. To wean away locals from using wood as the primary source of fuel, the Assam Rifles has launched a major and sustained drive to promote use of reusable energy sources by providing solar street lights in remote areas where electricity is not available.
-The Assam Rifles has also initiated several constructive programmes that encourage and promote talent and skill development to help the youth realise their full potential and prevent them from falling prey to the menace of drugs and indulging in criminal activities
-It can, therefore, be concluded that besides efficient discharge of their mandated responsibilities, both the Indian Army and Assam Rifles are making significant contribution to the overall national mission of creating a society and a system that is characterised by rising living and socio-economic standards, increasing investment in infrastructure and promoting key objectives of education, health and skill development.
-The Assam Rifles were in Jammu and Kashmir 20 years ago, too, where they conducted one of the most successful operations which is a record.
-“That operation was done by 7 Assam Rifles and a record number of arms and ammunition were recovered and terrorists neutralised in one single operation in May 1991. Wherever we have gone, including Sri Lanka and J&K, our troops have proved their mettle,” Gen Nair had said.
-Currently, the women soldiers are undertaking all counter-insurgency tasks that include frisking of women, patrolling, search operations, Mobile Vehicle Check Posts, among other things.
-Recently, as part of the focus on the northern border, a number of infantry divisions had been withdrawn from the northeast, which would apparently soon be filled up by more battalions of Assam Rifles. In its recent issue, THE WEEK explores how China might have orchestrated the Myanmar coup to push drugs, arms, and terrorists into the northeast.
The Assam Rifles (AR) is a paramilitary force of India responsible for border security, counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order in Northeast India
-New QATs, Long Operations, Domination In Hilly Areas: Forces In J&K Tasked With New Goal To End Terror:
New Quick Action Teams, conducting day-wise operations and specially trained in hilly and jungle warfare teams from various forces, including CRPF, Assam Rifles, NSG, and other tech-based support units, forces have to achieve a new goal in Jammu and Kashmir. In the coming weeks, Jammu and Kashmir will witness major and prolonged operations aimed at achieving the central government’s new goal of making the Union Territory terror-free within a set timeframe.
According to a top-level official, “This will be an ‘all-in’ situation to achieve the goal.”
Sources also said that in a recent meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah instructed security forces to intensify operations in a time-bound manner to make J&K terror-free as soon as possible. This effort will pave the way for the restoration of full statehood.
Following this directive, different security forces, in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, are implementing various strategies with an “umbrella plan”. A senior official confirmed that a detailed presentation was shown at a high-level meeting, outlining the mission. After the high level meeting, various top officials including DG CRPF GP Singh are visiting J&K to check preparations.
To tackle terrorism more effectively, the CRPF will deploy five new Valley Quick Action Teams in the Srinagar region. A senior official told News18 that the new CRPF DG, GP Singh, currently in J&K, has directed the force to conduct extensive operations in hilly areas, which are believed to be terrorist strongholds.
“The DG has instructed us to intensify operations, particularly in hilly areas, whether in Kashmir or Jammu. Ground commanders will be actively engaged, while the intelligence wing will provide timely and verified inputs that can be converted into actionable operations,” a senior CRPF official said.
“CRPF teams will dominate these hilly regions where militants are hiding. Multiple Quick Action Teams (QATs) will conduct operations in different areas, lasting several days. These teams will have backup and technology-based support to counter any terrorist attacks. Officers have been assigned from different units,” another J&K-based official told News18.
A top-level official also revealed that forces have been instructed to deploy officers and troops from Srinagar to the Jammu region for jungle operations.
Meanwhile, Assam Rifles will also conduct operations in various jungle areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly, last week, the NSG participated in a joint drill with J&K Police in Jammu. A hub has been established in Jammu, and the NSG, renowned as a zero-error force, is expected to participate in anti-terror operations. Currently there is no plan to send additional forces to the UT.
Former officials who have served in J&K have emphasised on Intelligence and area domination to achieve the goal. “The intelligence set up in the Jammu region calls for further upgrades to help security forces launch operations against the terrorists before they cause any damage. VDFs with a fair number of former soldiers can be an asset in this regard. In addition, they are trained and armed to offer stiff resistance to terrorists,” MP Nathanael, Former Inspector General, CRPF told News18.
He also said that with hostilities with Pakistan appearing to be a never-ending problem, the withdrawal of forces is a high-risk decision. Any vacuum in the deployment grid of security forces is soon exploited by the terrorists by infiltrating into the region and causing casualties.
Similarly, former ADG BSF Sanjiv Krishan Sood believes that achieving “zero terror” in J&K in the near future is not practically feasible, but incidents can be minimised through security force dominance.
“The goal of a terror-free J&K in the near future is an utopian idea. However, terror-related incidents can be reduced with proper domination by security forces. Strengthening intelligence efforts — both technical and human-based — is also crucial,” former ADG BSF Sanjiv Krishan Sood said!
Therefore the security grid is tight with Assam rifles coming to the forefront!
Author
Sheikh Sameer
The Kashmir Dialogues
