Against the backdrop of the continuing border dispute with China, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recently launched a Chinese language course for its officers, who will be deployed at key locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The government believes the initiative will ensure that there is no communication gap between the ITBP personnel and their Chinese counterparts during the periodic commander-level talks. ITBP Director-General Subhas Goswami stressed that this will help reduce any friction that might result in a flashpoint.
These talks that are also attended by ITBP officers usually take place in Nathula (Sikkim), Kibithu (Arunachal Pradesh) and in Ladakh. A dozen ITBP officers are already undergoing training and will shortly be deployed on the LAC.
For effective surveillance along with border, the ITBP has sought construction of 54 more border outposts in Arunachal Pradesh. During the UPA-regime, the proposal was cleared by the Union Home Ministry earlier this year.
“It is the world’s toughest border where we are faced with a rough and hostile terrain. It takes almost 25 to 30 days for the ITBP personnel to patrol some stretches. By setting up new border outposts, we would be filling up the existing gaps thereby drastically reducing the pressure on border patrol squads,” said an ITBP official.
The proposal is yet to get a final clearance from all the ministries concerned. “Effective manning of the new outposts would require raising a separate frontier, comprising nearly seven more battalions with a total strength of 8,000 to 10,000 well-equipped personnel,” said the official.
The force that mans 38 air-maintained posts (where rations and basic necessities have to be air-dropped) has also sought at least two helicopters (similar to Mi-17 choppers) of its own, apart from those provided by the Indian Air Force.
The force presently mans 157 border outposts. On an experimental basis, the ITBP had recently installed a sophisticated camera at the Thakung post in Ladakh, and based on the encouraging results, it plans to install similar high-resolution surveillance cameras at most of the outposts. As part of the long-term plan, efforts are also being made to lay optical fibre lines along with the border to interlink the posts with the headquarters.
The ITBP has also communicated to the government the pressing problem of almost 100 per cent deployment of its forces, which is taking a toll on the mental and physical wellbeing of the personnel. “In 2007, we were allocated 20 extra battalions to ensure that the personnel get enough time for rest and recuperation. However, it has not been happening so. The force is presently over-stressed and this issue has to be addressed urgently,” said another officer.
While two of the 27 road projects along the border have been completed, the Central government plans to construct a 1,800-km-long all weather road.
