Putting all speculation to rest, the Centre has decided not to transfer the operational command of Assam Rifles to the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will retain control of the oldest paramilitary force in India.With all the 60,000 Assam Rifles personnel drawn from the Army, the Defence Ministry had sought administrative control. However, Assam Rifles was to continue to function as a central paramilitary force (CPMF), looking after counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.The government saw it as a contradiction and decided that it was not possible for the force to carry out the functions of a CPMF, and be under the Army’s administrative control. All paramilitary forces are under the Home Ministry’s control.
