Forty-first edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Sun, 07 Oct 2001 20:50:22 +0200)

Indian sub-continent security forces

The following info are bits and pieces from a large number of websites and other sources, including FAS.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh rifles: The Bangladesh Rifles were originally formed as the East Pakistan Rifles during the period of a united Pakistan. Their mission includes border patrol, drugs interdiction and backup to the army during times of war. The Bangladesh Rifles came into existence shortly after the independence and are subordinate to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Ansars (Security Guards): The Ansars, formed in 1948, are a lightly armed auxiliary force that assists the police in maintaining law and order, participates in civic action projects in rural areas, and performs rear area missions in conjunction with the army during wartime.
Other paramilitary forces: Coast Guard, Border Guard, Armed Police, RAF.

India

Rastriya rifles: Rastriya Rifles is a para military force under the operational control of the Ministry of Defence. Its tasks includes internal security duties and, in war time, rear area security. The force is deployed in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-Eastern States.
Assam rifles: The Assam Rifles is the oldest para military force in the country. The Assam rifles are presently controlling the rebels in the North-Eastern region of India. They also guard the Sino-Indian and Indo-Myanmar borders.
Border scecurity force: After the conflict with Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch in 1965, the government decided that it would be better to have a permanent central border security force rather than the regular police, who guarded the border up to then. The Border Security Force was formed in 1965 and its main tasks are guarding the borders and protect the people living in the border area.
Indo-Tibetan border police: The ITBP was formed in the early 1960's as an extra security against possible Chinese aggression. Its tasks are basically the same as BSF's tasks.
Central reserve police force: The Central Reserve police Force is involved in maintaining India's internal security. They are brought into action when there are natural calamities, etc. The majority of the forces are deployed in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to fight terrorism.
Central Industrial security force: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was formed for the better protection and security of government owned industrial undertakings.
Coast guard
The territorial army: The Territorial Army is a voluntary part-time citizens army.
National cadet corps: The Cadet Corps consists of an Army Wing, a Navy Wing and an Air Wing.
Home guards: The Home Guards serves as an auxiliary police force. Tasks include maintenance of law and order and internal security; provide help to the community in any kind of emergency such as an air raid, fire, cyclone, earthquake, epidemic, etc.
National security guard: The National Security Guard is a federal contingency deployment force, formed to combat terrorism and to protect government officials and other VIPs.

Pakistan

National Guard: The National Guard has the following branches:
Janbaz Force, Mujahid Force, National Cadet Corps and the Women Guards
Frontier corps: The Frontier Corps are subordinate to the Ministry of Interior.
Pakistan rangers: Pakistan Rangers are also subordinate to the Ministry of Interior.
Other organisations: Maritime Security Agency
Coast Guard