Policing the Peaks: Arunachal’s New Battalion to Tackle Border and Internal Threats

Need for Strengthening Internal Security

1. Porous International Borders: Arunachal shares over 1,600 km of borders with China, Myanmar, and Bhutan, making it vulnerable to illegal infiltration, smuggling, and external threats.
2. Chinese Territorial Claims: China continues to claim parts of Arunachal as “South Tibet”, increasing the strategic sensitivity of the region.
3. Spillover of Insurgency: Insurgents from neighbouring Nagaland, Assam, and Myanmar-based groups often cross into Arunachal for shelter or transit.
3. Weak Local Policing: Difficult terrain and limited infrastructure hinder effective police presence in remote areas.
4. Security Gaps in Border Villages: Several border villages lack sufficient patrolling, making them prone to external influence and migration.
5. Tensions from Ethnic Conflicts: Historical grievances and demands for autonomy by local tribes can escalate into security issues if not managed.
6. Need for Rapid Response Forces: Localised armed police can respond faster to unrest than distant CAPFs.
7. Support to Development Projects: Internal security is essential for smooth implementation of development and connectivity initiatives in border areas.

Role of Arunachal Armed Police Battalion (AAPBN)

1. Crowd Control and Riot Management: The battalion will assist in managing protests, festivals, or community tensions.
2. Counter-Insurgency Operations: AAPBN will be trained to operate in forested, high-altitude regions for anti-insurgency tasks.
3. Border Area Patrolling: It will help in securing sensitive and disputed border regions where civil police presence is weak.
4. Disaster Relief and Rescue: The battalion can provide logistical and security support during natural disasters like landslides and floods.
5. Special Protection Duties: It can offer security for VVIPs, major installations, and high-value projects like highways and hydropower plants.
6. Aid to Civil Administration: During law and order breakdowns or emergencies, AAPBN can support the district police and civil authorities.
7. Reducing CAPF Dependence: The battalion allows Arunachal to rely less on Central Armed Police Forces, fostering self-sufficiency.
8. Psychological Assurance: Enhanced visible presence of trained security forces helps build public confidence in state capability.

India Reserve Battalion Model

1. MHA-Sanctioned Structure: India Reserve (IR) Battalions are sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs and raised by state governments.
2. Flexible Deployment: They can be deployed both within the home state and across India as per central orders.
3. Training Par with CAPFs: IR battalions receive rigorous training similar to BSF or CRPF in counter-insurgency and disaster response.
4. Financial Support by Centre: The central government provides assistance for raising infrastructure, arms, and initial salaries.
5. Used During National Crises: IR battalions from other states have been deployed in J&K, Naxal areas, and riot-hit zones.
6. Rapid Mobilisation Units: Their structure enables swift movement and deployment to conflict zones.
7. State Capacity Building Tool: Acts as a reserve force to boost state-level internal security without needing regular paramilitary deployment.

Public Safety and Administrative Impact

1. Enhanced Grassroots Policing: AAPBN will fill the policing vacuum in far-flung regions where traditional police are absent.
2. Quick Reaction Force: Enables prompt response to crises such as mob violence, blockades, or targeted attacks.
3. Support to Civil Authority: Provides logistical and human resource support during elections, festivals, and security operations.
4. Check on Cross-Border Crimes: Strengthened presence in vulnerable areas will deter smuggling, human trafficking, and narcotics movement.
5. Improved Law and Order in Towns: Urban areas will benefit from better law enforcement and reduced strain on existing police.
6. Surveillance and Intelligence: Battalion presence helps gather grassroots intelligence and builds local rapport.
7. Boost to Tourism Safety: Visible police presence reassures tourists, boosting the state’s adventure and eco-tourism sectors.
8. Faster Case Resolution: With better-equipped personnel, crimes in tribal and border areas can be investigated more efficiently.

Employment and Local Youth Empowerment

1. Recruitment from Tribal Communities: Special emphasis on hiring youth from local tribes, ensuring representation and inclusivity.
2. Job Creation in Remote Areas: Employment in the security sector offers stable income and skill-building for remote populations.
3. Skill Development: Training programs instil discipline, communication, and modern policing skills among recruits.
4. Reducing Youth Alienation: Active involvement in governance through police service can reduce insurgency recruitment.
5. Socio-Economic Mobility: Employed youth support their families, creating a ripple effect in rural development.
6. Role Models for Others: Successful officers from local communities can inspire more youth to join mainstream service.
7. Gender Inclusivity: Opportunity to recruit women into state armed police, improving gender balance.
8. Post-Retirement Benefits: Government service offers pensions, housing, and education benefits, enhancing long-term welfare.

Strategic Significance of Arunachal Pradesh

1. Geopolitical Tensions with China: Frequent PLA incursions and Beijing’s refusal to recognise Arunachal’s status make it a security hotspot.
2. Tawang Sector Sensitivity: AAPBN presence near Tawang can enhance surveillance in the strategically crucial region.
3. India’s Forward Posture: Strengthening local security is part of India’s broader policy to match Chinese infrastructure near LAC.
4. Buffer Against External Influence: Security presence can counter Chinese propaganda and subversion activities in border villages.
5. Facilitating Strategic Projects: Projects like the Frontier Highway and Border Area Development Program require secure conditions.
6. Boosting Defence Logistics: A well-trained state police can assist the army in non-combat tasks like route clearing and local coordination.
7. Part of Act East Vision: Security in the Northeast is essential for economic connectivity with Southeast Asia.
8. Support for Village Clusters: AAPBN can help maintain law and order in new model villages being developed under Vibrant Villages Programme.

Challenges in Implementation

1. Funding Constraints: High initial and recurring costs for infrastructure, salaries, and training.
2. Logistics in Difficult Terrain: Poor road connectivity may delay mobilisation or affect efficiency.
3. Shortage of Trainers: Limited access to experienced trainers for high-altitude, jungle warfare, and tech-based policing.
4. Retention Issues: Youth from remote areas may seek opportunities outside the state, affecting battalion stability.
5. Inter-agency Coordination: Effective functioning needs smooth coordination between civil police, AAPBN, army, and CAPFs.
6. Risk of Militarisation: Overuse in civil situations could lead to human rights issues or public distrust.
7. Cultural Sensitivities: Local customs and community dynamics must be respected during operations.
8. Sustained Political Support: Political will is essential for continuous funding, reforms, and community trust-building.

Way Forward

1. Technology Integration: Use of drones, bodycams, GPS-based patrolling, and AI-assisted surveillance for efficiency.
2. Focused Training Institutes: Establish dedicated training academies in the Northeast for specialised terrain policing.
3. Community Policing Model: Encourage community engagement through tribal elders, local leaders, and peace committees.
4. Women’s Participation: Recruit and train more women officers to improve inclusivity and public trust.
5. Centre–State Security Synergy: Regular joint exercises and information-sharing with central forces like CRPF, ITBP.
6. Periodic Performance Review: Independent audits and public feedback to evaluate battalion effectiveness.
7. Integration with Smart Policing Initiatives: Link battalion operations to Crime and Criminal Tracking Network (CCTNS).
8. Long-term Decentralised Security Strategy: Empower local units for proactive, intelligence-led policing rooted in local realities.