Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 3: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will visit several forward posts and fly over others besides meeting top Commander of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and addressing Sainik Sabha along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China frontiers during his three days visit to Leh from June 5. Singh has also included a visit to Samba sector in his three days itinerary. This will be his second visit to Jammu in less than 10 days as he had visited here on May 27 in connection with year-long celebrations of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre.
In Leh, Singh was scheduled to visit Chumar forward post, which had witnessed repeated standoffs during UPA Government between Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China apart from flying over Chushul, Tara Dungti. Tagyarmal, Burtse, Thakung and Murgo forward posts in Eastern Ladakh along LAC with China. He will have nearly hour long halt at Chumar and Thakung border posts.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Rajnath Singh will visit 47th battalion ITBP Headquarters Ghagwal in Samba sector at about 9 am on June 5 soon after his arrival from New Delhi. He will inaugurate newly constructed campus of 47th battalion at Ghagwal, meet the top ITBP officials, inter-act with them on their role in security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and return to Jammu for flying to Leh.
During his Samba visit, MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh will accompany Rajnath Singh. Later, Dr Singh will return to New Delhi.
Home Secretary RK Goyal, Director General of Police (DGP) K Rajendra Kumar and other top officials of civil and police administration and BSF would receive the Union Home Minister and accompany him to Samba. A briefing to the Home Minister on security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the International Border by the top brass is not ruled out.
A day before, the International Border (IB) witnessed ceasefire violations twice by the Pakistan Rangers in Hiranagar sector in which a BSF jawan was injured.
Sources said Rajnath Singh on his arrival at Leh will stay at Sindhu Bhawan, where he will review security scenario and upgradation of infrastructure at a high level meeting with officers of civil and police administration apart from the ITBP, which was deployed at most of the LAC with China frontiers in Eastern Ladakh.
He was also expected to meet some delegations including one from Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, BJP leaders and Buddhist organisations and discuss problems of Leh. The district administration of Leh was likely to give detailed briefing to the Home Minister.
Sources said the Singh would visit forward Border Out Post (BOP) of ITBP at Thakung in Leh, bordering China, in the morning of June 6 along with top ITBP officers. Thakung Post Commander will brief Singh on situation prevailing along the LAC with China, requirements of the ITBP and other aspects of the situation. He will address the `Sainik Sabha’ at Thakung Post.
According to sources, the Union Home Minister will fly over several forward posts with China including Chushul, Tara Dungti, Thukang, Tagyarmal, Chumar, Burtse, Murgo and DEO Track Junction to review infrastructure along the LAC with China and need to strengthen it.
The IG ITBP Frontiers will give detailed briefing to Rajnath Singh at Sindhu Bhawan on the evening of June 6 after his return from the forward posts.
On June 7 also, the Union Home Minister will fly over some forward posts on China border before returning to New Delhi.
Sources said the Government of India has mooted the idea of `One Border, One Force’. China border is being manned by the ITBP, which falls under the control of the Union Home Ministry as the ITBP is a para-military force while the Border Meeting Points (BMPs) are managed by the Army under control of the Defence Ministry.
The Union Home Minister was also expected to review the situation in this context. His visit comes within days after the tour of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to Siachen Glacier and Leh on May 22.
Sources said the Union Home Minister was likely to take assessment of infrastructure requirements of the ITBP along LAC with China in Leh as the Centre was deeply concern over building infrastructure to match strength of the PLA.
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