SHILLONG, Oct 1 � The first field intelligence unit of Assam Rifles has been deployed in the North East and is expected to be fully operational in about six months time, Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen K S Yadava said.
�It has been deployed throughout North East up to the sector headquarters. It will take some time to mature and find its bearings among the local populace to gather adequate information,� Yadava said at his farewell conference here on Tuesday last.
The intelligence unit is an officer-oriented organisation comprising about 200 men.
Assam Rifles is the lead intelligence unit along the Myanmar border. Previous inputs were collected through an ad-hoc arrangement. The force is also planning to raise two commando battalions, but the sanction was awaited.
On the proposal to move the Assam Rifles posts along Myanmar border closer to zero line, the DG said, �Deployment has to be in depth and supported administratively.�
At present the Assam Rifles posts are much inside the international border.
�You have seen the dense forests and adverse terrain along the Myanmar border. Once you deploy the men, you have to ensure that food and other supplies reach them. As the infrastructure develops, the men will keep moving closer to the border,� the outgoing DG said.
Yadava admitted that there was a certain amount of smuggling of contraband and arms through the Myanmar border but claimed �The situation is not out of control.�
�Any person from either side can enter into 16 km of the boundary without any documents. Considering the friendly nature of the border, we have to put in double the effort to man it. We are concentrating to keep illegal activities to minimum,� he said.
On militants taking shelter in Myanmar, the DG said, �They are actually hiding there. The Myanmar army is putting constant pressure on them. We are coordinating with them to flush them out.� � PTI
