Assam Rifles troops from Manipur are now being moved to the Jammu region to counter the threat created by terrorists in the area.
Two battalions of the Assam Rifles, currently stationed in Manipur and other northeastern states, will be relocated to Jammu. A total of 2,000 soldiers from the Assam Rifles, including riflewomen, will be deployed in the Jammu region.
It is pertinent to note that there was a movement of troops to the LAC post-Galwan attack by China. Due to this, almost 15,000 army jawans involved in counter-terrorism operations were moved out of the Jammu region. There was relative peace in the Jammu region, and the redeployment of troops made sense at that time. However, this may have created an intelligence void in the region. It may be worthwhile to note that 15,000 boots on the ground (jawans) create a human intelligence network along with locals. It was felt that this human intelligence void might be exploited by the terrorists. The move of 2,000 jawans from the Assam Rifles may be to plug this intelligence void.
Known for their expertise in jungle warfare, including mountain climbing and cave finding, Assam Rifles have been handling challenging operational situations in the North East. These troops will now be used for jungle warfare. The Home Ministry has issued the necessary instructions to the Assam Rifles headquarters in this regard.
It remains to be seen if troops from the North East will be able to generate human intelligence and carry out surgical operations against the terrorists. Sustained interaction with locals over a long time provides suitable inputs that are critical for operational efficiency.
