As many as 260 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel, who were part of various special operations in Ladakh last year, were awarded the Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal on the occasion of National Unity Day.
“The ITBP men safeguarded the borders in Ladakh in extreme conditions through its operation ‘Snow Leopard’ on the icy heights. The force carried out a high level of strategic planning and efficient execution of ground operations with complete synergy and collaboration between all sister organisations,” the ITBP said.
The awardees include Deepam Seth, then Inspector-General of the North West Frontier ITBP who was a member of the delegation for the 10 rounds of Senior Highest Military Commander (SHMC) level talks. The extensive negotiations resulted in a breakthrough in February 2021 and the process of disengagement of troops from forward locations has been initiated, the ITBP said.
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“The special operations of ITBP spread over a year and involved a high degree of execution of strategic planning and efficient ground operation. Besides this, it also included timely and adequate supplies of logistics to the forward location for troops. On Independence Day, 2021, 20 ITBP personnel were awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry for indomitable courage shown by them in eastern Ladakh,” it said.
Notified by the MHA in 2018, the Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal is considered in the areas such as counter terrorism, border actions, arms control, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations and as validated by the committee at the MHA level. The Union Home Minister approves the medals on the recommendation of the committee.