Hailed as “Sentinels of the North East” and “Friends of the Hill People” Assam Rifles is one of the premier and oldest paramilitary forces of the country which is celebrating its 175th  Anniversary on 24th March, 2010. Motorcycle Peace Rally is one of many events being organised to commemorate 175th Anniversary of Assam Rifles.

 

 

The aim of the Rally is to garner goodwill and spread message of peace and harmony in all the insurgency affected states of North East and showcase Mizoram as a state where peace and tranquility prevails. The Motorcycle Rally was flagged off by His Excellency Shri Jagannath Pahadia, Governor of Haryana from New Delhi on 2 March, 2010 in presence of Lt. Gen. K.S. Yadava, PVSM, AVSM, SM,VSM, Director General Assam Rifles. The second leg of the rally was flagged off by  His Excellency Shri J.B. Patnaik, Governor of Assam from Guwahati on 9 March, 2010. The journey of the rally encompasses the seven North Eastern States having deployment of Assam Rifles. The rally travelled from four states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and reached Aizawl. Mizoram on 17 March, 2010. A team from the rally had simultaneously reached Agartala, Tripura and will marry up with this rally team at Silchar.

The Motor Cycle Peace Rally comprised of one officer, one Junior Commissioned Officers and 28 gallant soldiers of Assam Rifles on 15 Hero Honda motorcycles. It will be covering an approx distance of 2500 kms. in a span of 20 days and will be flagged in at Shillong by Lt. Gen. K.S. Yadava, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Director General Assam Rifles.

Beside achieving the aim of displaying grit and resolve of the Assam Rifles soldier, this Motorcycle Rally is also conducting various commendable activities enroute for the local population which include symposium on AIDS Awareness, Malaria Awareness, Distribution of Med kits, Quiz in local schools and Motivational talk on Assam Rifles and Recruitment procedures. Various sports activities like Volleyball and Football matches are also being played with local teams.

The rally was flagged off by His Excellency Lt. Gen (Rtd) M.M. Lakhera, PVSM, AVSM, VSM on 19 March, 2010 from Assam Rifles Ground. The Governor complemented the participants for their endeavour and praised them for their efforts in displaying the constructive image of Assam Rifles. The rally proceeded to Silchar for their onward journey to Shillong.