Lieutenant General Abhijit S Pendharkar, General Officer Commanding of the Spear Corps, conducted a detailed review of an Assam Rifles formation in Silchar, focusing on operational readiness and troop morale. This inspection occurs during a period of heightened sensitivity along the India-Myanmar border, where regional instability has raised security concerns.
During his visit, Lt Gen Pendharkar engaged with personnel, offering commendations for their professionalism and unwavering dedication to duty. Drawing from his extensive military background, which includes leadership roles along the Line of Control and his previous position as Director General of the Territorial Army, he underscored the strategic significance of the Assam Rifles in sustaining peace across the northeastern region of India.
The Assam Rifles, comprising over 65,000 personnel distributed across 46 battalions, operates under a dual command structure involving both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Army. Historically, the unit has played vital roles, including participation in the 1962 Sino-Indian War and in disaster response efforts following the disastrous 1950 Assam earthquake.
In a notable outreach effort, the General also met with ex-servicemen in the region to recognize their contributions and their ongoing role in nation-building. This initiative aligns with the principles of the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM), which has been advocating for veteran rights since 2008 and has been instrumental in securing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for retired military personnel.
This visit is particularly pertinent in light of the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur, which has led to over 200 casualties over the past year. Lt Gen Pendharkar’s leadership is regarded as critical to navigating security measures and reinforcing stability throughout the increasingly volatile northeastern corridor of India.
