Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General of the Assam Rifles, met with Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting focused on the Assam Rifles’ pivotal role in fostering peace, stability, and development in the Northeast, a region critical to India’s security and growth.
During the meeting, Lt Gen Lakhera briefed the Hon’ble Minister on the Assam Rifles’ ongoing efforts to ensure peace and stability in the Northeast, emphasizing the force’s contributions to counter-insurgency operations, border security along the Indo-Myanmar border, and community development initiatives. He highlighted the Assam Rifles’ commitment to supporting regional growth and aligning with national development goals. The Assam Rifles, often referred to as the “Sentinels of the North East,” have been instrumental in maintaining law and order in the region since their inception in 1835, evolving from a militia to India’s oldest paramilitary force.
The meeting, held at the Union Minister’s office in Sanchar Bhawan, was marked by a ceremonial exchange of a memento and a bouquet, symbolizing the collaborative spirit between the Assam Rifles and the Ministry of DoNER. Photographs from the event captured the two leaders in a warm exchange, with a clock on the wall showing the time of the meeting and framed pictures in the background adding a personal touch to the setting.
Lt Gen Lakhera, who assumed the role of Director General in August 2024, brings extensive experience in the Northeast, having previously served in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations across Jammu, Kashmir, and the Northeastern states. His prior role as Additional Director General of Military Operations, where he handled information warfare, further underscores his strategic expertise in the region.
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, appointed as Union Minister in 2024, has been a key figure in driving development in the Northeast. With a political career spanning over two decades, Scindia has held portfolios in telecommunications, commerce, power, steel, and civil aviation, where he spearheaded initiatives to enhance connectivity and infrastructure across India. His current role in the Ministry of DoNER aligns closely with the Assam Rifles’ mission to promote progress in the Northeast, making this meeting a significant step toward strengthening ties between the two entities.
The Assam Rifles, operating under the dual control of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Indian Army, consist of 46 battalions with a sanctioned strength of 65,143 personnel as of the 2019–2020 Ministry of Home Affairs report. Beyond their primary duties of border security and counter-insurgency, the force plays a vital role in providing aid to civilians during emergencies, facilitating communications, and supporting education and medical assistance in remote areas of the Northeast.
This meeting underscores the shared commitment of the Assam Rifles and the Ministry of DoNER to enhance development and stability in the Northeast, ensuring the region continues to thrive as an integral part of India’s growth story.
