215 posts moved along front as against 180
*Situation normal in Eastern Ladakh after de-escalation
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 23: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will set up 10 all-women border posts along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. It has also moved its 215 border out posts (BOPs) forward along the front on India’s North and Eastern link.
According to officials, the ITBP initiated forwardization plan after 2020 Galwan Valley clash with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China in the Eastern Ladakh and the twin decisions are part of this strategy.
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The ITBP mans 3488 kilometres LAC with China in the Union Territory of Ladakh and four States including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. The LAC with China is entirely peaceful at present.
The ITBP has undergone huge reforms and strengthened its manpower and infrastructure during past one decade but mainly after Galwan Valley clash in the Eastern Ladakh. However, situation in the Eastern Ladakh is now absolutely normal for the past quite some time after de-escalation of troops from majority of the areas by both sides following talks at different level between the two countries.
The Galwan Valley clash took place between the Indian Army and the PLA. The Indian Army had taken control of the frontiers following incursions by the PLA in the Eastern Ladakh. Twenty Indian soldiers were martyred while the PLA lost 30-35 personnel in the clash at Galwan which took place on June 15, 2020.
Tensions persisted in the Eastern Ladakh for a couple of years till the de-escalation started gradually. However, the situation now is entirely peaceful for past many months.
Sources said the ITBP has been establishing 10 all-women border posts along the LAC with China and has also moved its 215 border posts forward along the front on India’s north and eastern flank so far.
The ITBP has worked on the forwardisation plan and, as a result, the number of forward-deployed BOPs (border outposts) is now 215 as compared to 180.
The ITBP is also in the process of establishing two all-women BOPs in Ladakh’s Lukung and Thangi in Himachal Pradesh.
The ITBP, with manpower of more than one lakh personnel, has its border posts ranging between the height of 9,000 feet and over 14,000 feet, affected by inclement weather and low levels of oxygen.
“The establishment of seven new battalions and a sector headquarters has not only strengthened this plan (forwardisation) but has also enhanced our reach and supervision of the forward areas,” the sources said.
The Centre had sanctioned seven more battalions and a Sector Office comprising about 9,400 personnel for the ITBP in 2023.
“New forward bases along the LAC with China will be set up by the ITBP in the near future in order to “strengthen security and coordination,” the sources said.
Eight more all-women BOPs will be made operational on this front, they added.
As per the sources, the training institutions of the ITBP force have also been “reorganised” and five new skilling modules have been launched for the troops on mountain warfare and tactical survival.
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