Agartala, May 15 (IANS) The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday sanctioned one more battalion of the elite Tripura State Rifles, taking the total number of Tripura State Rifles battalions in the state to 16, officials said.

In a letter addressed to the Tripura Chief Secretary, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs stated that, upon the Tripura government raising one additional Tripura State Rifles battalion under the India Reserve category, the Centre would provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 50 crore for the new battalion.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs letter further stated that the Centre would also reimburse the actual expenditure incurred for infrastructure development, including setting up the battalion headquarters and related facilities, subject to a ceiling of Rs 30 crore.

However, the cost of land would not be included in the reimbursement, as the state government would have to provide land free of cost for the new battalion.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs letter also mentioned that reimbursement would be subject to submission of utilisation certificates in accordance with the General Financial Rules, along with all requisite documents and details.

The Union Home Ministry has also laid down eight conditions that the Tripura government must strictly adhere to while raising the new Tripura State Rifles battalion.

With the sanctioning of the new battalion, the total strength of the elite Tripura State Rifles force will rise to 16 battalions, of which 13 are categorised as India Reserve Battalions.

These Indian Reserve Battalions can be deployed anywhere in the country as and when required by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for security, election, law and order, and anti-insurgency duties.

At present, two Tripura State Rifles battalions, comprising nearly 2,000 personnel, including officers, are deployed outside Tripura.

One battalion has been stationed under the Delhi Police in the national capital since 2019, while another has been deployed with the South Eastern Coalfields Limited in Chhattisgarh since 2022.

Apart from these deployments in Delhi and Chhattisgarh, one Tripura State Rifles battalion is currently providing dedicated security to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s drilling sites in Tripura.

During the Lok Sabha elections held between April 19 and June 1, 2024, Tripura State Rifles personnel were deployed for election duties in Maharashtra, Bihar, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh.

In addition to providing security during the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the Indian Reserve battalions of the Tripura State Rifles have performed election duties in almost every state of the country, ensuring security during both Assembly and Lok Sabha polls over the years.

As part of the Central forces deployment, 10 companies of the Tripura State Rifles were recently sent for election-related duties in Assam and West Bengal.

Well-trained in counter-insurgency operations, Tripura State Rifles personnel have earned a strong reputation for professionalism and operational efficiency.

They played a significant role in controlling and curbing the four-and-a-half-decade-long insurgency in Tripura, contributing immensely towards restoring peace and stability in the Northeastern state.

–IANS

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