Manipur Rifles

The Manipur Rilfes pre-dates independence as a paramilitary force responsible for internal security in the area. Many of these types of units were formed in India, separate from the military organisation and providing the civil authorities with a force by which to control their provinces.
This remains the same as units like the MR continue to provide this function outside the Indian Army.

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Interesting to note the green berets and black rank chevrons, traditional 'Rifles' items. And the SMLE still a force to be reckoned with, lets hope the opposition have left their AKs behind.

Interesting picture, I have always been intrigued by India's paramilitary forces.

Many of these forces have finally been equipped with more modern weaponry following the 2008 Mumbai Attack. It takes guts to go after terrorists with AK-47s with a World War II era bolt action rifle, I salute their courage.

ChrisF202 wrote:Interesting picture, I have always been intrigued by India's paramilitary forces.

Many of these forces have finally been equipped with more modern weaponry following the 2008 Mumbai Attack. It takes guts to go after terrorists with AK-47s with a World War II era bolt action rifle, I salute their courage.

I'm kinda surprised anyone's still using the SMLE or any other bolt action rifle, especially on active service, in this day and age. The ones in the pic gotta be close to 100 years old.

I used to think the same but then I realized with the huge numbers of police and paramilitary forces in India it would be extremely costly to equip them all with modern weapons, not to mention that the police are normally unarmed. It is my understanding that only the SWAT type units have modern weaponry. Officers over the rank of Sub-Inspector can carry a pistol at their own discretion. Other officers are armed as needed and only with rifles (usually a SMLE or if they are very, very lucky an L1A1/FN-FAL) or submachine guns (Sterling SMGs).

There did get extra funding after Mumbai and offers from the UK, US, etc but it will still take several years if not longer to fully modernize.