Have to be prepared for any kind of role that comes our way: Assam Rifles DG PC Nair

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], July 27 (ANI): Assam Rifles Director General Lieutenant General PC Nair said that his force is constantly prepared for any kind of roles given to them and acknowledged that there is a need for modernisation in equipment.

“We have to be constantly prepared for any kind of role that can come our way. We are sitting in this headquarters to constantly visualise the evolving security situation and what kind of roles would be given to us. So keeping that in mind, we feel there is a need for modernising our weapons, getting new equipment, things like drones, the latest night vision devices, radars, surveillance devices, weapons, bullet proof vehicles–all of those,” Nair said in an exclusive conversation with ANI.

Speaking about the future, the Lieutenant General said that they have visualised a certain role for the Assam Rifles and so they have formulated a modernisation plan and annual procurement plan. However, he said that their role might change based on what happens in the future.

“We have something called our modernization plan and annual procurement plan. In these two compartments, we have fit in all the things that we have in mind which should be procured for our force. It will be role dependent. We have visualised a certain role. But maybe the role could change because who is certain of what is happening tomorrow in which part of the country. But we are prepared to take on any role and ready to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Army like we have been traditionally doing,” Nair said.

Speaking about the Assam Rifles batallions that have been posted in Jammu and Kashmir, Nair said, “Batallians have been there for more than three years now. Two of my batallions are ther. They are in the Kashmir Valley. They are operating alongside Rashtriya Rifles and also at times alongside rest of the Indian Army which is there at the Line of Control.”

The Director General said that the Assam Rifles is known for its adaptability and they can easily fit to the role whether in anti-terrorism operations or in the north-east.

“We as a force have this great advantage of constantly operating in counter intelligency and counter terrorism roles. So for my force, it is second nature. They can easily adopt to this, whether it is terrorist or the noth-east. They can easily tackle and the pay off has been very good,” Nair said.

Speaking about the Mahila soldiers of the Assam Rifles posted in Jammu and Kashmir, Nair said that they perform the same functions as that of their male counterparts and have led to positive outcomes when it comes to searcing women for arms and contraband.

“In my multiple interactions with various Army commanders there, they constantly tell me that the two batallions are doing a marvellous job and special credit to the Mahila soldiers who undertake tasks like any other male counterparts. They go for patrolling, ambushes, raids, cordon and search. They do everything just like a normal male soldier. Since they are women they can search women and in the process there has been a large recovery of weapons, contrabands and stuff over there. That is a huge advantage that we have. In case we are called for any other task in Kashmir, I am sure that my force will be able to deliver,” the Director General said.

In reply to a question asked by the reporter, on whether more batallions should be posted in Jammu and Kashmir, Nair said that the decision will be taken at the “highest level.”

“That is a call that will be taken at the highest level because the context would be then North-East versus Kashmir, which is more important, which requires more force…I am sure due diligence would be given whenever that decision is taken,” the Director General said.

The Lieutenant General also shared that the Assam Rifles have trained children from various remote areas in the North East to get admitted to sainik schools and military school.

“There is a lot that we have done for the youth that does not find enough attention in the media…We have been engaging with the youth. We have tried to pick up children from various remote areas in the north-east, train them for sainik school and military school. A large number of them in the last one year have got admitted, in fact 230 children are there today who have been trained by us,” Nair said.

The Director General also informed that the Assam Rifles also fund education for children in remote areas as part of corporate social responsibility and through tie-ups with banks.

“We have even helped funding them. When a child gets into a military school or a Sainik school he is supposed to pay Rs 1.3-1.4 lakhs. Most of them are economically weak. We have tie-ups with banks. As part of CSR we have been funding them,” Nair said.

Speaking about children trained by the Assam Rifles who have been admitted into various engineering and medical colleges, he said, “We have trained about 160 children in the last one year for IIT for various engineering colleges and medical colleges. And I am glad to tell you that 88 per cent of them have already secured admission in nationally reputed medical and engineering colleges. These are small differences.”

The Assam Rifles DG added that they ususally train children from remote areas because the aspirations of those in urban centres are usually different.

“We always go to the remote areas. We do not restrict ourselves to urban areas because in urban areas the aspiration of the youth is very different from what exists in the rural areas. So surely I think the effect of these will be realised a decade or two later, when we will see how we have been helping to transform not just these children but their families,” Nair said.