Rajnath rules out Assam Rifles’ withdrawal from Myanmar border

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday ruled out withdrawal of Assam Rifles from the Indo-Myanmar border and its replacement with another paramilitary force, saying no such decision has been taken yet.

“We have not taken any decision yet. Whenever we take any such a decision, we will let you know,” he said on the sidelines of a ‘Sainik Sammelan’ organised on the occasion of 181st Raising Day of Assam Rifles.

There have been reports that the Centre may entrust the task of guarding this border to another border guarding force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The Border Security Force (BSF) was earlier being considered for the task and it had also prepared an assessment report in this regard.

India and Myanmar share an unfenced border of 1,643 km adjoining Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km) and Mizoram (510 km) and permit a "free movement" regime up to 16 km across the border.

Assam Rifles, raised in 1835, functions under the operational command of the Union Home Ministry. The Home Minister is on a two-day tour of Meghalaya, beginning Monday.