Two more commando units to guard State

Second India Reserve Battalion to be set up

The Union Government, while giving the nod to the State on setting up the second India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Bijapur recently, has laid down a condition that two companies of commando force should be raised as part of the Battalion. And the State has accepted it.

“As many as 25 commandos will be trained in each of the companies. Altogether, 50 well-trained commandos will be at our disposal to counter the vicious designs of anti-national elements in  State,” Home Minister V S Acharya said.

Funds promised

The CentralGovernment had disappointed the State by not sanctioning a unit of National Security Guards (NSG) in the aftermath of terror attack on Mumbai in November last year. Instead, it had granted the Army commandos to be stationed in Bangalore. Now the Centre has decided to add more strength to the counter-terrorism force in the State by raising two teams of commandos to be stationed Bijapur. The Centre has also promised to provide necessary funds for this purpose.

Over and above funds required for setting up the second IRB comprising 1,000 personnel, the Centre has assured to reimburse up to Rs 6 crore towards providing arms,
communication equipment and specialised equipment.  For raising the IRB, Centre will bear 75 per cent of the cost -- Rs 13.38 crore of the total Rs 17.85 crore required for it.
This apart, the Centre has said it will reimburse up to 50 per cent of the capital cost, including the cost of land. The Centre will enjoy the right of first call on IRB. In other words, which will have the authority to ask the State to deploy the IRB anywhere in the country at any time.

The Centre has set a deadline of two years to the State to complete the entire process of setting up the battalion. Accordingly, the State has to recruit the personnel within six months, training should be completed within one year, deployment within one-and-a-half year  and land acquisition and civil work should be done within two years.

Highlights

* Two companies of commandos to be raised as part of 2nd IRB at Bijapur.
* Centre to provide additional funds for this purpose.
* These companies will be in place within two years.
* Each of these companies will have 25 commandos.