Imphal, March 12: An Assam Rifles cycling expedition began here today, spreading the message of peace and harmony in the Northeast.
The expedition, a part of the upcoming celebrations of 181st Raising Day of the paramilitary force, was flagged off by Maj. Gen. V.S. Sreenivas, inspector-general, Assam Rifles (South).
Before the cycle expedition, various units of the Assam Rifles, under the aegis of the inspector-general (South), organised more than 180 free health camps across the state, benefiting over 5,500 civilians and exservicemen as part of the celebrations.
The cycle rally, that began at the Assam Rifles headquarters at Mantripukhri on the outskirts of Imphal city, will meet another expedition team of the inspector-general, Assam Rifles (North), in Kohima. The team then will proceed towards the headquarters of director-general of the Assam Rifles in Shillong after covering a distance of 540km.
Military commanders and civil government officials attended the flagging-off ceremony of the expedition today.
"The expedition was organised to commemorate the 181st Raising Day of the Assam Rifles that will be celebrated on March 24.
The Assam Rifles' contribution to the Northeast is synonymous with the history of the region where the force has been relentlessly pursuing various cultural and adventure activities to bring in visible changes in the overall development of the northeastern states," an Assam Rifles release said.
The Assam Rifles had been helping the local population in the fields of education, training, public works, agriculture, transportation, communication, health, sanitation and the like to ensure economic and social development of the region, the release added.
The statement also said, "Besides displaying their spirit of adventure, the cycling team of the Assam Rifles, living up to the Assam Rifles' credo of 'Sentinels of North East-Friends of Hill People', will spread the message of peace and harmony and also conduct various awareness campaigns."
The team will organise awareness programmes on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Jan Dhan Yojana schemes. Lectures and informative talks in towns and villages en route would be the highlights of the cycle expedition, the release added.
