AGARTALA : The Centre has sanctioned a proposal to raise one more India Reserve Battalion for Tripura to effectively handle the law and order situation in the northeastern state, an official said on Saturday.

The Union government will reimburse one-time financial assistance of Rs 50 crore for raising one IRBn.

In a letter to Tripura Chief Secretary J K Sinha, an official of the Ministry of Home Affairs said, “I am directed to convey the sanction for raising of one India Reserve Battalion (IRBn) by the Tripura government. The Centre shall reimburse one-time financial assistance of Rs 50 crore for raising one IRBn”.

Currently, the northeastern state has 11 India Reserve Battalions (IRBns).

“The recruitment process shall be completed within two years of the date of sanction,” the letter said, adding that a selection board headed by an ADG-rank official will be formed to proceed with the recruitment drive.

The force will be deployed for counter-insurgency operations and border guarding, and the state government will be obligated to comply with requests whenever the Centre feels the need to requisition the IRBn, the MHA communication said.

Earlier, the state government announced that it would appoint 916 constables, including women, through a direct recruitment process.

A six-member recruitment committee has already been constituted. (Source: PTI)