Tribals likely to fill the void in Army's Gorkha regiment

WITH the induction of Gorkhas from Nepal on hold for the past couple of years, the Indian Army is planning to recruit tribals from within India with similar traits to address the fast-depleting strength of the famed khurki-wielding Gorkha Rifles (GR).

- MAYANK SINGH

CONTINGENCY PLAN

Officials told this paper the plan will kick off if the impasse over recruitment from Nepal does not get resolved soon.

Explaining the idea of recruiting “tribals with similar traits”, an official said those with the physical attributes residing in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Darjeeling may be considered.