BABINA RANGE /India/, November 24. /TASS/. Troops of Russia’s Eastern Military District and units of the Indian Army have switched to the active stage of the Indra-2018 joint military drills in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India, the press office of the Eastern Military District reported on Saturday.

"Under the drills’ scenario, illegal armed formations gained foothold in the outskirts of the community of Babina, refusing to obey the legitimate authorities. In a demonstration of their goals, the militants blockaded several communities and took their residents hostage," the press office said.

In this situation, the Indian government forces were assigned the task of lifting the communities’ blockade, freeing them from terrorists and releasing hostages in a joint operation with the Russian military contingent.

The commanders of the Russian and Indian contingents worked out a joint action plan, defined the procedure of accomplishing assignments and outlined them in detail on their maps and the terrain mockup.

"After receiving an order on the commencement of practical actions, the units of both countries received weapons, boarded their military hardware and marched to the amassment area. In the designated district, the servicemen of both countries organized security of the temporary field camp, set up patrols and observation posts, after which a tactical pause was announced in the drills," the press office said.

The Russian-Indian Indra-2018 drills kicked off on November 19 and will last through November 28. The maneuvers involve 250 servicemen of a motorized large unit of the Eastern Military District’s all-arms army and 250 servicemen of the 31st Indian armored division. The Russian servicemen will be accomplishing their assignments aboard the armored vehicles provided by the Indian side.