Agartala: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has given its nod to raise another battalion of Tripura State Rifles (TSR).
An official of the Tripura Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that the decision to create another TSR battalion was taken based on Chief Minister Manik Saha’s proposal placed before Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent meeting in New Delhi.
Announcing the MHA’s decision, CM Saha wrote on social media: “Big boost for Tripura! The Union Ministry of Home Affairs sanctions raising another India Reserve (IR) battalion for Tripura State Rifles, enhancing security and generating employment opportunities. Grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji.”
The Central government will disburse a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50 crore to raise a TSR battalion.
An amount of up to Rs 30 crore would be provided for the cost of infrastructure (excluding land cost), with submission of details of expenditure.
An official of the Tripura Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said the Central government would exercise the right of first call on the IR Battalion of the TSR and shall have full authority to ask the state to make the battalion available for deployment anywhere in the country, as and when required.
Currently, there are 14 battalions of TSR, a majority of which are India Reserve (IR) battalions that can be deployed to any state under orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
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TSR was formed as per the Tripura State Rifles Act, 1983, passed in the Tripura Assembly, and the first battalion came into existence on March 12, 1984. Tripura currently has 21,798 jawans serving under the TSR.
