Assam Rifles holds patriotic rallies, youth drives in remote Manipur villages
Synopsis
Days before India's 80th Independence Day, the Assam Rifles mobilised hundreds of villagers, students, and soldiers across three conflict-sensitive Manipur districts — planting 500 saplings, running a 500-strong marathon in Moreh on the Myanmar border, and reaching schoolchildren with Tiranga rallies. The scale of the outreach signals a deliberate effort to reinforce civilian-military trust in a region still navigating deep ethnic fault lines.
Key Takeaways
The Assam Rifles conducted patriotic and civic programmes across Kamjong , Tengnoupal , and Churachandpur districts on 12 and 13 August 2025 .
Nearly 500 people participated in the 'Run Moreh Run' marathon in Moreh , on the Myanmar border , despite heavy rain.
240 students and 20 teachers at Good Shepherd School, Kasom Khullen joined a Vande Mataram recitation and Tiranga Rally.
500 saplings were planted by 50 Assam Rifles personnel and 20 students in Churachandpur under the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative.
The drives also commemorated 150 years of Vande Mataram and promoted national integration in border communities.
The Assam Rifles organised a sweeping series of patriotic rallies, youth engagement programmes, fitness events, environmental initiatives, and cleanliness drives across remote villages in Manipur on 12 and 13 August 2025, ahead of the 80th Independence Day. The initiatives, confirmed by a Defence Spokesman, spanned three mountainous districts — Kamjong, Tengnoupal, and Churachandpur — and were designed to strengthen bonds between security forces and border communities.
Key Activities Across Three Districts
In Kamjong district, the Assam Rifles conducted a Tiranga distribution and flag-dignity awareness drive at Phaikoh village, followed by a Tiranga Run in which schoolchildren and local residents carried the National Flag and raised patriotic slogans. At Good Shepherd School in Kasom Khullen, 240 students and 20 teachers joined Assam Rifles personnel in a Vande Mataram recitation and Tiranga Rally, led by a senior official of the Hungbei Company Operating Base (COB). A patriotic awareness session at Aishi village further sought to inspire local youth on values of unity, harmony, and responsible citizenship.
Border District Sees 500-Strong Marathon
In Tengnoupal district, which shares an international border with Myanmar, a Tiranga Run on 12 August drew around 160 participants. The event concluded with cultural performances by local students and a Vande Mataram presentation by the Assam Rifles Pipe Band. On 13 August, nearly 500 people — including local residents, Assam Rifles personnel, and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel — took part in the 'Run Moreh Run' marathon, running from New KLP to the Integrated Check Post Complex in Moreh despite persistent rainfall. Top finishers across five categories — Under-10, Under-18, Girls, Above-18, and Serving Soldiers — received medals and certificates. The Assam Rifles also screened a motivational film for 55 students and 3 teachers at Sita Village High School in Tengnoupal, promoting values of courage, perseverance, and dedication.
Green Cover and Cleanliness Push in Churachandpur
In Churachandpur district, the Assam Rifles organised a mass tree plantation drive across Aina, Veng, Khuga, Singhat, and Churachandpur on 12 and 13 August. Around 50 Assam Rifles personnel and 20 local students planted 500 saplings under the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative to boost green cover and build environmental awareness. A Clean Village Drive at Aina village saw 15 Assam Rifles personnel and 17 villagers jointly cleaning public spaces and roadsides.
Broader Significance of the Outreach
The programmes also commemorated 150 years of Vande Mataram and actively promoted the Centre's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. According to the Defence Spokesman, the people-centric initiatives reflect the Assam Rifles' commitment to fostering national integration and civic awareness in strategically sensitive border regions. This comes amid an extended period of ethnic tension in Manipur, making community outreach by security forces particularly significant. The Assam Rifles, often called the 'Friends of the Hill People', has historically served as a bridge between the state's diverse communities and the national mainstream. With Independence Day approaching, such grassroots engagement is expected to continue across other forward-deployed units in the Northeast.
Point of View
Marathons, and saplings alongside rifles in border districts like Tengnoupal and Churachandpur is a calculated effort to rebuild civilian trust that conflict has eroded. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign carries a different weight in a region where national identity itself has become contested terrain. The real measure of these drives is not the number of saplings planted or flags distributed, but whether the goodwill translates into actionable intelligence-sharing and community cooperation — the unglamorous metrics that actually determine security outcomes in the Northeast.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Assam Rifles do ahead of Independence Day 2025 in Manipur?
The Assam Rifles organised patriotic rallies, Tiranga runs, motivational film screenings, tree plantations, and cleanliness drives across Kamjong, Tengnoupal, and Churachandpur districts on 12 and 13 August 2025. The programmes were part of nationwide celebrations ahead of India's 80th Independence Day.
What was the 'Run Moreh Run' marathon?
'Run Moreh Run' was a marathon held on 13 August 2025 in Moreh, Tengnoupal district, on the India-Myanmar border. Nearly 500 participants — including local residents, Assam Rifles personnel, and BSF personnel — ran from New KLP to the Integrated Check Post Complex despite persistent rainfall, with medals awarded across five age and service categories.
How many saplings were planted during the Churachandpur drives?
Around 500 saplings were planted across Aina, Veng, Khuga, Singhat, and Churachandpur by approximately 50 Assam Rifles personnel and 20 local students on 12 and 13 August 2025, as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' environmental initiative.
Why are these activities significant in the context of Manipur?
Manipur has experienced prolonged ethnic tension, making civilian-military trust-building especially important in its border districts. The Assam Rifles' community outreach is aimed at fostering national integration and reinforcing its role as a bridge between border communities and the national mainstream.
Which districts in Manipur were covered by the Assam Rifles' Independence Day programmes?
The programmes spanned three mountainous districts: Kamjong, Tengnoupal (which borders Myanmar), and Churachandpur. Activities included Tiranga runs, awareness sessions, a marathon, motivational screenings, tree plantations, and clean village drives.
