ITBP raises maiden mechanised column

For quick deployment of troops along the India-China border in case of Doklam-like standoffs

Fortifying a force: At Kupup, the closest point to Doklam. The ITBP is the first line of defence in case of any standoff with China in these areas.

For the first time in its over 50-year history, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is raising and deploying a mechanised column of power vehicles and machines to quickly mobilise troops along the India-China border during Chinese military transgressions and Doklam-like standoffs.

The decision to raise such a military-style combat wing in the paramilitary force was taken after the Union Home Ministry recently approved deployment of snow scooters at all high-altitude border outposts of the mountain-warfare trained force along the 3,488-km-long frontier it guards.

A senior Home Ministry official said on the condition of anonymity that the mechanised column of the force will comprise over 250 sports utility vehicles (SUVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), snow scooters, excavators and a few other medium-lift four-wheeled vehicles.

Peacetime force

While the Army has the mechanised infantry, it was essential to have a mechanised column in the ITBP as it secures the border in peacetime and will bear the first onslaught in case of a war or a conflict, the official said, explaining the rationale behind the latest move.

Till now, only the Border Security Force that guards the India-Pakistan border had an artillery unit and some mechanised components to aid it.

A proposal to raise a full-fledged mechanised column under the 90,000-personnel strong ITBP was moved by the forces’ headquarters here sometime back, the official said, with the force Director General (DG) R.K. Pachnanda making a specific presentation to the Ministry in this context.

The force has about 30 border posts above the height of 15,000 feet and some 50 such posts above 12,000 feet and the Home Ministry has accorded sanctions to the ITBP to have at least one snow scooter at each of these frontier bases. The force has also been given sanctions to upgrade its firepower by modernising the support weapons like 81mm mortars, he added.

Sanction given

“Sanctions have already been accorded to procure modern machines and vehicles for the force. So the government has decided to strengthen the assets and strength of the both the army and the ITBP,” the Home Ministry official said.