Rashtriya Rifles

The Rashtriya Rifles (if fully translated, "National Rifles") is a counterinsurgency force in India. It was raised by General B C Joshi in 1990 specifically for fighting insurgency in Kashmir, to complement the weak local security forces in the area. The main role of the formation is to allow the Indian Army to ensure its primary task of defending the borders and the state's territory unhindered by action from Pakistani-backed terrorists and guerrillas. The Rashtriya Rifles itself comprises 62 battalions, with another 30 formed using regular army battalions.The efficacy of an RR battalion arises from the fact that unlike conventional Army battalions, it has six rifle companies instead of four they possess and has kept its heavy weapons -- useless in their sphere of activities -- back at their bases.Six new battalions were raised, but their fate is unclear with the Union Financial Ministry yet to sanction the move.

Originally comprising a total of four Counterinsurgency Forces, each responsible for an area of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu, the RR raised a fifth force 'Uniform' in 2003-04.:
*Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) R / Romeo Force - Rajouri and Poonch
*Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) D / Delta Force - Doda
*Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) V / Victor Force - Anantnag, Pulwama and Badgam
*Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) K / Kilo Force - Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar
*Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) U / Uniform Force - Udhampur and Banihal

ee also

*Assam Rifles
*Special Forces of India

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/rashtriya-rifles.htm Rashtriya Rifles on globalsecurity.org]