BOOSTING INDIA'S HOMELAND SECURITY

At a time when India is facing many existential internal security threats, including Naxalism and jihadi terrorism, now is the time to reshape the strategic dynamics by overhauling the nation's internal security apparatus, reports

- JYOTI SINGH

Cental Armed Police Forces (CAPF) or paramilitary forces in public parlance, as well as state police forces, have always been considered the most critical part of India's internal security apparatus, without which wars against anti-national elements can't be taken to a logical conclusion and sociopolitical order in the country can't be maintained.

While the three branches of the Indian armed forces (army, navy and air force) are expected to counter external security threats at the border, paramilitary organisations such as Assam Rifles, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and special forces like National Security Guard (NSG), along with state police units, are expected to reign in internal sub-conventional level threats emanating from isolated pockets and closely guard the nation's vital strategic installations from enemies.

It goes without saying that these troopers need better weapons along with cutting-edge electronic gear to live up to the best of national leadership's expectations.

Replacing old assault rifles

Assault rifles are one of the primary service weapons being used by CAPF troopers in sub-conventional level battlefields. Starting with close-quarter battle (CQB) engagements with left-wing insurgents in an asymmetric warfare environment and ending with long-range shooting at infiltrating terrorists at the border, the assault rifle remains the standard issue weapon of paramilitary soldiers for countering threats.