On Monday, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma flagged off the first batch of 144 recruits for the 166 Infantry Battalion Territorial Army (Home & Hearth) at a ceremony held in Guwahati. This historic event saw 135 males and 9 females selected for training, scheduled to begin later this month in Shillong and Bengaluru. The Chief Minister expressed pride in this achievement, noting his initial unawareness of the Territorial Army and his subsequent appeal to the Central Government for a Mizo Battalion. Initially, only 70 personnel were approved, but negotiations led to an increase to 144 recruits. Lalduhoma thanked several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, for their support. He encouraged the recruits to embody the values of the Mizo people and serve with dedication. Home Minister K. Sapdanga emphasized the importance of military discipline and character-building opportunities provided by the Territorial Army. The recruits will undergo training starting next month, with ongoing efforts to fill additional vacancies in the battalion.