Maj Gen IJS Bora, General Officer Commanding, 101 Area declared the formal raising of the 42nd Rashtriya Rifles Battalion (Assam) at the Assam Regimental Centre, Happy Valley, Shillong. It would be commanded by Lt Col Naresh Razora.

Earlier, smartly turned out Guards of the new battalion proudly presented the maiden general salute to the GOC at a brief inaugural ceremony. Officers, jawans and families of 101 Area and 42 RR Battalion were present on the occasion. Later, ceremonial cakes were cut by Mrs M Bora and Mrs Kuldeep Razora to celebrate the momentous occasion.

The Rashtriya Rifles (RR), conceived and raised a decade ago to combat insurgency and terrorism, was the brain-child of late Chief of Army Staff, Gen BC Joshi. The force, raised to relieve the Army of counter-insurgency operations, has proved the mettle both in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East. From the initial raising of six battalions and two sector headquarters in 1990, the force has since grown and comprises four force headquarters which include 12 sector headquarters and 36 battalions. Convinced of their utility in combating insurgency and terrorism, the government has sanctioned the raising of 30 additional RR battalions by the year 2005. It may be mentioned that while four RR battalions have already been raised in the recent past, the 41st RR Battalion (MLI) has simultaneously been raised at Belgaum.

For soldiers of the North-East, skills of counter-insurgency and combating terrorism come as a natural instinct. The exemplary role played by 35 RR Battalion (Assam) in the J & K sector, in carrying out its primary task diligently with due regards and respect for human rights, has earned respect from the local population. And for these reasons, Army HQ has honoured the Assam Regiment by tasking them to raise the new RR battalion. This will comprise nearly sixty per cent of troops from Assam Regiment, thirty per cent from the Mechanised Infantry and the remaining from the task oriented troops from various services to provide the logistic back-up.

The raising of the battalion which formally began on March 1, would be finished by September this year. Brig N P Krishna Kumar, Commandant Assam Regimental Centre provided all help for the raising of the new battalion.