Syllabus Section: Internal Security (GS Paper II)

Importance: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains

Why in News?

Recently, the camps of Assam Rifles in the Mon district of Nagaland have been vandalised by the angry crowd in the retaliatory violence.

Assam Rifles

• Assam Rifles is one of the six central armed police forces (CAPFs) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• The other forces are:

1. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),
2. The Border Security Force (BSF),
3. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP),
4. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
5. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

• It is tasked with the maintenance of law and order in the North East along with the Indian Army and also guards the Indo-Myanmar border in the region.

How is Assam Rifles unique?

• It is the only paramilitary force with a dual control structure.

• The administrative control of the force is with the MHA,
• Its operational control is with the Indian Army, which is under the Ministry of Defence (MoD)

• The force is the only central paramilitary force (CPMF) in real sense as its operational duties and regimentation are on the lines of the Indian Army.

Problems with the Assam Rifle Control Structure:

• The dual control structure created two sets of demands from both within the Assam Rifles and by MoD and MHA for singular control over the force by one ministry.
• A large section within the force wants to be under the administrative control of the MoD, as it would mean better perks and retirement benefits.

Why do both MHA and MoD want full control?

MHA Point of View:

• The border guarding forces are under the operational control of the ministry, so coming under MHA will give border guarding and a comprehensive and integrated approach.
• MHA sources also say that Assam Rifles continues to function on the pattern set during the 1960s.
• The ministry would want to make guarding of the Indo-Myanmar border on the lines of other CAPFs.

MoD Point of View:

• The Assam Rifles has worked well in coordination with Army and frees up the armed forces from many of its responsibilities to focus on its core strengths.
• It has argued that giving the control of the force to MHA or merging it with any other CAPF will confuse the force and jeopardise national security.

Background: It was in 2013 that MHA first made a proposal to take operational control of the Assam Rifles and merge it with the BSF. There were discussions held between MHA and MoD, however, no agreeable ground could be found. In 2019, after Amit Shah took over as Home Minister, the proposal was renewed – this time with a plan to merge Assam Rifles with the ITBP.

 

Source: Indian Express