Source: The Sangai Express / PTI
New Delhi, October 18 2009:
The Centre has directed the Assam Rifles to move its troops closer to the sensitive Indo-Myanmar frontier in order to curb cross-border movement of arms, drugs and militants.
Most of the troops of the 174 year-old paramilitary force, which functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs and operational command of the Army, are currently deployed 40 kilometres away from the international border.
"We have directed the Assam Rifles to deploy forces closer to the border to stop militants and smugglers having a free run," a Home Ministry official said.
Many North-east insurgent groups still maintain their camps and training centres across the 1,631 km-long border that runs along the four frontier States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.
Smuggling of arms and ammunition across the border is also rampant, the official said.
Besides this, cross-border smuggling of narcotics is always a concern for the security forces since such substances always find markets in metros and other major cities.
"Because of hostile terrain and dense forests, the militants find it easy to cross the border and set up their bases there.
The border is also free for drug smugglers," the official said.