In a move aimed at further strengthening the security system in Tripura, the Central Government has approved the formation of a new India Reserve Battalion (IR Battalion) for Tripura State Rifles (TSR).
According to guidelines issued with the approval of the Union Home Ministry, the Centre will provide a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50 crore for raising the battalion. Additionally, the Centre will bear infrastructure development expenses up to Rs 30 crore. However, the state government will have to provide land free of cost.
The directive, signed by Union Home Ministry Under Secretary Santosh Kumar, has already been sent to the Tripura Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP). The guidelines clearly state that the battalion must be formed in accordance with standards fixed by the Centre in areas such as transport, wireless systems, weapons, and ammunition.
The state government will have to bear the annual expenditure and remaining infrastructure costs of the new IR Battalion and the force will remain under the Centre’s “first call” system, meaning the Central Government can deploy the battalion whenever required in any part of the country.
The battalion will be used for important duties such as combating insurgency, tackling militancy, and guarding border areas.
The guidelines further mention that at least 25 percent of the battalion personnel must receive special commando training so they can effectively operate in insurgency and militancy-affected regions. The training will be conducted with the assistance of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the CRPF will bear the initial training expenses.