The Assam Rifles, which was raised in 1835, has also been carrying out counter-insurgency operations in militancy-infested states in the Northeastern region. (Express File Photo)The Army has red flagged the Home Ministry's proposal to take operational control of the Assam Rifles, saying it will have serious national security implications including adversely impacting vigil over India's disputed border with China.
Strongly opposing the move, the Army has instead sought overall responsibility of guarding the entire Sino-India border in the Eastern sector to effectively deal with any Chinese transgression, top military sources told PTI.
At present, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) patrols several segments of the border.
The sources said concerned over the proposal by the Home Ministry to take operational control of the nearly 185 years old Assam Rifles, the Army has taken up the issue with the Defence Ministry last week seeking its immediate intervention in the matter.
At present, the Home Ministry has the administrative authority over the paramilitary force Assam Rifles while the Army has its operational control.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is likely to examine the Home Ministry's proposal to merge the Assam Rifles with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and bring overall operational control under it.
“Shifting the operational control of the Assam Rifles from the Army to the Home Ministry will…
