Assam Rifles organises peace expedition in northeast India

Aizawl/Agartala, March 10: India's oldest paramilitary force and trained for counter-insurgency operations, the Assam Rifles has organised a cycle expedition across the north-eastern region to spread the message of peace, unity and "Swachh Bharat" as part of its 181st Raising Day celebrations.

"As part of our 181st Raising Day celebrations, we are organising various programmes across the northeastern region. The programmes include cycle expedition rally, medical camps and various other civic action programmes in the interior areas of northeastern region," an Assam Rifles official said.

Mizoram Governor Nirbhay Sharma flagged off a Cycle Expedition Rally in Aizawl on Thursday.

The "Cycle Expedition Rally" team -- comprising nine jawans and led by Captain Tushar Mehlawat -- would end its traverse in Meghalaya's capital Shillong on March 20.

The official said: "The 'Cycle Expedition Rally' is aimed at spreading the message of peace, unity and Swachh Bharat all through northeast India."

The Assam Rifles, as part of its 181st Raising Day celebrations, also organised a free medical camp on Wednesday in Nagaland's Dimapur town.

According to an official release, health screening and free diagnostic tests, including for diabetes, HIV, malaria and typhoid, were conducted at the medical camp. Free medicines were also provided to the patients based on the tests and advice of the specialists.

Tripura Governor Tathagatha Roy on Wednesday flagged off a 12-day national integration tour of 25 special children.

These otherwise-abled children, accompanied by four teachers and four Assam Rifles officials, are for the first time travelling outside Tripura. They would visit New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur before attending the Assam Rifles Raising Day function in Shillong on March 23.

Headquartered in Shillong, Assam Rifles -- with a total 46 battalions -- guards the unfenced 1,643-km India-Myanmar border with Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland and is also posted in militancy-affected areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

IANS