Govt to replace Assam Rifles with BSF on Myanmar border

India shares a 1,640 km-long border with Myanmar manned by Assam Rifles, and dense forests in most parts make the boundary porous and vulnerable.

Most of the posts of Assam Rifles are located well inside Indian territory and only a handful of them are located near the zero line, which makes it easier for insurgents camping in Myanmar to sneak into India easily.

Assam Rifles was entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the border with Myanmar in 2002 and at that time, the strength of the force was 30 battalions (1000 personnel in each battalion).

Gradually, the strength of the force, which draws its strength from the Army, has been increased to 46 battalions.  

20 more battalions are in the process of being raised by the force, which is the country's oldest paramilitary popularly called the ‘Cachar Levy'.