With varied national duties and responsibilities like protecting the VIPs and vital installations, Indo-Tibetan Border Police has planned to raise nine additional battalions by 2015, its Inspector General, Inder Singh Negi, said.
The elite paramilitary force was raised in 1962 primarily for guarding the border covering 3,488 km after Indo-China war. However, the force had been deployed for various other duties like combating extremists in the Kashmir valley and to fight the naxals in Chattisgarh, Mr. Negi told ‘The Hindu.’
Besides, it is been involved in protection of VIPs and important installations in the country. ITBP has also been involved in maintenance of law and order, especially during elections time. “With so much of additional duties, we need to have additional force,” he added.
ITBP has 45 battalions across the country and four battalions are in the process of being raised. The IG said that ITBP had planned to have nine more battalions by 2015.
Mr. Negi was here to review the first passing out parade of constables of general duty held at the ITBP camp in Idayapatti near here on Saturday. The Idayapatti camp was made an additional training camp to meet the requirement of raising additional battalions, he said.
A total of 189 constables took part in the passing out on completion of 44 weeks of rigorous basic training including physical toughening, weapon training, drill, tatics, field craft, battle craft and unarmed combat. They took solemn pledge under the tricolour.
Addressing at the parade, Mr. Negi asked the constables to take pride in joining ITBP after tough training. He wanted them to dedicate themselves for the cause of the nation. He presented trophies to the award winners.
Deputy Inspector General, S.S. Mishra, and the commandant of 45 Battalion, Gopinathan Choyi, were present.
