War & Conflict: - The Assam Rifles
The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in India. They were formed in 1835, approximately 190 or so odd years ago, under the central armed police forces. They were known locally as the “cachar levy”. The Assam Rifles were formed in Shillong, the capital of the state of Meghalaya, and the city is still the headquarters of the Assam Rifles. The Assam Rifles were initially tasked with protecting British tea plantations and settlements from attacks by local tribesmen. From there, the Assam Rifles evolved to become a frontier force that was responsible for securing the northeastern borders of India, and in 1870 elements from the Assam Rifles were merged into three Assam Military Police Battalions, and approximately 3,000 men from these battalions were later absorbed into the British Army during the first world war; a lot of these men were sent to various parts of Europe and Asia. These men, many of whom were Gurkhas, performed valiantly and were conferred numerous awards for brav...
