Rashtriya Rifles

Rashtriya Rifles
Rashtriya Rifles
	Insignia of the Rashtriya Rifles
Active	1990 – present
Country	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Counter-insurgency
Size	80,000
Headquarters	Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir
Nickname(s)	RR
Motto(s)	Dridhta aur Virta; (Courage and Valour)
War Cry	Bajrangbali ki Jai; (Glory to lord Hanuman)
Commanders
Additional Directorate General	Maj Gen Anupam Bhagi, YSM, SM
Insignia
Insignia	Crossed AK-47 with Ashoka Chakra
Flag

The Rashtriya Rifles (RR; transl. National Rifles) is a counter-insurgency force in India, formed in 1990, to specifically serve in the Jammu and Kashmir region.^[1] They also maintain public order by drawing powers from the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 (AFSPA).^[2] The RR was raised by the Indian Army by reconstituting two corps (about 75,000 troops).^[3] Its personnel are provided by the Indian Army on deputation.^[1] The RR is commanded by an Additional Director General of Rashtriya Rifles (ADG RR).^[4]

Crest

The RR crest consists of the Ashoka Chakra and two crossed rifles with fixed bayonets. Beneath, in a banner, is emblazoned the RR's motto: Dridhta aur Virta (Persistence and Valour).

Organisation

RR units are organized under five "Counter Insurgency Force" (CIF) HQs. Each CIF is responsible for an area of the Kashmir Valley and Jammu Division.

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 – Valley districts (Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam and Budgam).
Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) K / Kilo Force – Kupwara, Baramulla and Srinagar.
Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) U / Uniform Force – Udhampur and Banihal, now also covering Ladakh.

Victor Force and Kilo Force operate under the control of the XV Corps. Delta Force, Romeo Force operate under the control of XVI Corps.

Uniform Force, which earlier used to operate under the XVI Corps, was moved from the Poonch sector to the Ladakh sector in 2020 to counter Chinese aggression.

Operational sectors

The areas covered by the CIFs are further divided into sectors:

Sector 1 – Anantnag district
Sector 2 – Kulgam district
Sector 3 – Manasbal Lake
Sector 4 – Doda district
Sector 5 – Baramulla district
Sector 6 – Poonch district
Sector 7 – Kupwara district
Sector 8 – Kupwara district
Sector 9 – Kishtwar district
Sector 10 – Baramulla district
Sector 11 – Banihal
Sector 12 – Budgam district
Sector 13 - Rajouri district
Sector 14-
Sector 15-

Battalions

RR comprises 65 battalions.^[5] Known RR battalion affiliations include:

1 RR – Mahar Regiment
2 RR – Sikh Light Infantry
3 RR – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
4 RR – Bihar Regiment
5 RR – Jat Regiment
6 RR – Sikh Regiment
7 RR – Punjab Regiment
8 RR – Madras Regiment
9 RR – Rajputana Rifles
10 RR – Rajput Regiment
11 RR – Dogra Regiment
12 RR – The Grenadiers
13 RR – Kumaon Regiment
14 RR – Garhwal Rifles
15 RR – Gorkha Rifles
16 RR – Sikh Regiment
17 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
18 RR – Rajputana Rifles
19 RR – Sikh Light Infantry
20 RR – Dogra Regiment
21 RR – Brigade of the Guards
22 RR – Punjab Regiment
23 RR – Rajput Regiment
24 RR – Bihar Regiment
25 RR – Madras Regiment
26 RR – Kumaon Regiment
27 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
28 RR – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
29 RR – The Grenadiers
30 RR – Mahar Regiment
31 RR (Commando) – Parachute Regiment
32 RR – Gorkha Rifles
33 RR – Gorkha Rifles
34 RR – Jat Regiment
35 RR – Assam Regiment
36 RR – Garhwal Rifles
37 RR – Punjab Regiment
38 RR – Madras Regiment
39 RR – The Grenadiers
40 RR – Dogra Regiment
41 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
42 RR – Assam Regiment
43 RR – Rajputana Rifles
44 RR – Rajput Regiment
45 RR – Jat Regiment
46 RR – Sikh Regiment
47 RR – Bihar Regiment
48 RR – Garhwal Rifles
49 RR – Sikh Light Infantry
50 RR – Kumaon Regiment
51 RR – Mahar Regiment
52 RR – Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
53 RR – Punjab Regiment
54 RR – Madras Regiment
55 RR – The Grenadiers
56 RR – Maratha Light Infantry
57 RR – Rajputana Rifles
58 RR – Rajput Regiment
59 RR – Assam Regiment
60 RR – Naga Regiment
61 RR – Jat Regiment
62 RR – Dogra Regiment
63 RR – Bihar Regiment

References

^ ^a ^b "Rashtriya Rifles". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
^ Chakravarti, Sudeep (15 August 2019). "J&K bifurcation leaves a host of unresolved issues". Mint. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
^ "Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
^ Gurung, Shaurya Karanbir (1 April 2019). "Army Rejig: Now ADG to head Rashtriya Rifles". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
^ P361 The Military Balance, 2010, The International Institute for Strategic Studies

External links

Rashtriya Rifles on GlobalSecurity.org

[GlobalSecurity-1] "Rashtriya Rifles". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.

[2] Chakravarti, Sudeep (15 August 2019). "J&K bifurcation leaves a host of unresolved issues". Mint. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.

[3] "Paramilitary Forces and Internal Security". Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.

[4] Gurung, Shaurya Karanbir (1 April 2019). "Army Rejig: Now ADG to head Rashtriya Rifles". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.

[5] P361 The Military Balance, 2010, The International Institute for Strategic Studies

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