The Meghalaya government has taken significant steps to enhance the operational capabilities of its security forces by establishing two specialized training institutions. On Monday, the state administration issued official notifications for the creation of a Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School and a separate Urban Warfare Training Facility (UWTF).
New CIJW School for Specialized Jungle Training
Through a notification from the home (police) department, the government has greenlit the setting up of a Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School at Baghmara, which serves as the headquarters of the South Garo Hills district. The primary objective of this school is to impart specialized skills in counter-insurgency and jungle warfare to personnel from the state police and commando forces.
The facility is designed to train special units, equipping them with advanced tactics required for effective operations in dense jungle terrain and against insurgent threats. This move is seen as a direct response to the need for highly trained forces capable of handling the unique security challenges present in the region's forested areas.
Urban Warfare Training Facility in Mawiong
In a separate but concurrent notification issued on the same day, the government also announced the establishment of an Urban Warfare Training Facility (UWTF) at SF-10, Mawiong. This facility aims to provide what the notification describes as "realistic, scalable training."
The training curriculum will range from basic Close Quarter Battle (CQB) techniques to advanced operational scenarios. These will include procedures for clearing multi-storied buildings, executing hostage rescue missions, breaching techniques, and integrating urban surveillance. The government stated that this facility will strengthen state capacity, reduce operational risks, and improve inter-agency response during urban-centric security situations.
Additional Police Station for Byrnihat
Alongside these major training infrastructure announcements, the state government, in another notification, declared the creation of a new police station at Byrnihat in the Ri-Bhoi district. This station, to be named the Byrnihat Police Station, is strategically located close to the Assam-Meghalaya inter-state boundary. Its establishment is expected to improve law enforcement and response times in this specific area, addressing local administrative and security needs.
The series of notifications issued on Monday underscores the Meghalaya government's focused approach on modernizing and specializing its police force. By investing in infrastructure for both jungle and urban warfare training, the state aims to build a more robust, versatile, and prepared security apparatus to meet diverse challenges.
