Assam Rifles personnel have been empowered by the central government to arrest anyone and search a place without warrant in North-eastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
“An officer of the rank corresponding to that of the lowest rank of members of the Assam Rifles" has been given these powers under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The Assam Rifles is the leading counter-insurgency force in the Northeast.
It also guards the sensitive India-Myanmar border.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which is operational in some parts of the Northeast, also gives similar powers to the Army operating in the region.