Arunachal Scouts 2nd bn accorded financial nod

Informing this, Defence Minister A K Antony told Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki that notification in this regard would be made soon by the ministry for starting the recruitment process.

Leading a delegation from the state, Tuki had called on Antony in New Delhi yesterday.

The first battalion of Arunachal Scouts, raised in 2010 on the lines of the Army's Ladakh Scouts, has taken charge of providing security to its headquarters at Riyang in East Siang district, in the last part of April.

Aiming to strengthen military preparedness along the China border, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) recently discussed the proposal for raising the second battalion of the Army's Arunachal Scouts.

In Scouts battalions, the officers are from the regular Army whereas the majority of the soldiers are drawn from local areas. Ladkah Scouts personnel were deployed in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

During his meeting with Antony, Tuki also urged him to expedite the repair work of state roads being undertaken by the BRO. The roads had been badly damaged by recent floods.

Antony assured him that he would take up the matter with BRO authorities, the sources said.

The delegation led by Tuki included Takam Sanjoy, MP, Tourism Minister Pema Khandu and Parliamentary Secretaries Padi Richo, Jambey Tashi and Phurpa Tsering.