This story is from May 18, 2016

ITBP may replace Assam Rifles on Myanmar border

The long pending decision to put Indo-Tibet Border Police by replacing Assam Rifles from the sensitive Indo-Myanmar border is likely to see the day of the light soon.
ITBP may replace Assam Rifles on Myanmar border
NEW DELHI: The long-pending plan to employ the Indo-Tibetan Border Police on the sensitive India-Myanmar border by replacing Assam Rifles is likely to see the light of day soon.
Sources said, the Centre held two high-level meetings recently to discuss the matter and is seriously considering giving charge of the crucial border to the ITBP, and that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by PM Narendra Modi, is “likely to put up a note in this regard soon”.

Junior home minister Kiren Rijiju told TOI that “meetings have taken place” to deliberate on the issue but a “decision is yet to be taken”. Senior officers in the MHA, which oversees central paramilitary forces, said the “decision is tilting in favour of ITBP”.
A committee led by R N Ravi had last year recommended replacing Assam Rifles, which functions under the defence ministry even though it’s administrative control is with MHA, with the ITBP.
“The issue has been discussed at length with suggestions that some battalions of Assam Rifles may be converted into ITBP battalions while some 30 new ITBP battalions could be raised for the purpose,” said a source. ITBP has given its consent for taking over border guarding duties.
India has a porous, 1,643-km border with Myanmar. “A large number of security lapses have occurred in the last few years on the border while reports of smuggling of narcotics, weapons and ammunition for north-east based insurgent groups are common,” said an officer.
The officer added that ITBP had a very good record in guarding the international border with China and, being a mountain force, it had substantial border exposure.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA