Infra development, ITBP requirements high on agenda
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold high-level review of situation and requirements of the para-military troops deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Jammu and Kashmir and four other States on November 26.
Top brass of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the LAC with China in five States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, will be present at the meeting which is scheduled to be held at the ITBP headquarters in New Delhi, official sources told the Excelsior.
Though situation all along the LAC with China has been peaceful barring minor incursions which are mutually resolved by the two sides through the mechanism developed by the Armies of two neighbours, sources said the Central Government wants to strengthen its positions by developing infrastructure and meeting requirements of the ITBP like sophisticated and modernized posts, vehicles and other equipments.
This will be the first visit of Shah to the ITBP headquarters after he took over as the Home Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet this year though he has regularly been meeting with top brass of the ITBP to take assessment of situation prevailing along the LAC and their requirements as they guard the LAC at very high altitudes.
The Union Home Minister had made a similar maiden visit to the CRPF headquarters in New Delhi last week.
ITBP top brass is expected to make a presentation on the deployment, operations and other administrative details of the force during the visit of the Home Minister to their headquarters.
Information about a number of new acquisitions made by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police like high-powered vehicles, heavy earth movers and latest communication equipments, will also be showcased, sources said.
The Central Government during past five and half years has initiated series of measures to provide better facilities including posts, vehicles and other equipments to the ITBP as per their requirements as they guard the posts at high altitudes in all five States, which share un-demarcated Line of Actual Control with China.
Besides, the Centre has also initiated series of measures to develop infrastructure along the LAC with China including strategic roads and rail lines to match the strength of China in all five States including Eastern Ladakh sector in the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh.
A number of strategic roads have either been constructed or were in the process of construction in Ladakh. Last month, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited Ladakh and inaugurated strategic bridge constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
About 90,000 personnel strength ITBP is primarily tasked to guard the 3,488-km long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China that runs from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh and it also renders a variety of duties in the internal security domain, including conducting anti-Naxal operations.
It was raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Chinese aggression and is one amongst the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) under the Union Home Ministry.
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