News Analysis India

Tag: ITBP

  • MHA gets more funds for infra & arms to counter terror, border, cyber threats

    Express News Service

    With a major focus on national security the Government earmarked Rs 1.96 lakh crore in the 2023-24 budget allocation to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responsible for India’s internal security, border management, intel gathering and counter terror offences, in view of the increased challenges.

    This increase of about Rs 10,000 crore over last year’s (2022-23) revised allocations of Rs 1,85,777 crore comes at a time when the ministry is looking at arming counter insurgent forces with better equipment and arms, creating a robust cyber patrolling system and strengthen intel gathering and coordination amongst law enforcement agencies and counter terror forces.

    A substantial amount has been allocated this time for improving infrastructure for the patrolling of international borders amidst increased enemy drone attacks, upgradation of law enforcing infrastructure and modernisation of police besides the paramilitary forces.

    The MHA is responsible for matters concerning internal security, central armed police forces, border management, disaster management, census, and centre-state relations.  In addition, the Ministry makes certain grants to union territories (UTs), since they are not covered by the Finance Commission’s recommendations on devolution and, thus, do not have any share in central taxes.  

    In the current budget major portions of the allocation amounting to Rs 1.28 lakh crore, has been earmarked for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprising the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The figure last year stood at Rs 1.19 crores.

    The increased allocation has come as a refreshing development for the CAPF that has been expecting more funds for infrastructure, technological advancement and security-related equipment — which includes drones, early warning systems, equipment to enhance reaction time, for better training, intelligence gathering and operations.

    The CRPF which is entrusted primarily with the task of internal security duties and fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Maoists backed left winged extremists (LWE) and other ultra outfits has been allocated Rs  31,772.23 crore in comparison to Rs 31,495.88 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards India’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh besides handling internal security assignments, has been given Rs 24,771.28 crore in comparison to Rs 23,557.51 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which protects vital installations such as nuclear projects, airports and metro networks, has been given Rs 13,214.68 crore in comparison to Rs 12,293.23 crore allocated in 2022-23.

    The Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan, has been allocated Rs 8,329.10 crore in comparison to Rs 8,019.78 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the Sino-Indian border, got Rs 8,096.89 crore in comparison to Rs 7,626.38 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Assam Rifles, which is deployed along the India-Myanmar border and for anti-insurgency duties in the Northeast, has been allocated Rs 7,052.46 crore in comparison to Rs 6,561.33 crore given in the current fiscal.

    With a major focus on national security the Government earmarked Rs 1.96 lakh crore in the 2023-24 budget allocation to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) responsible for India’s internal security, border management, intel gathering and counter terror offences, in view of the increased challenges.

    This increase of about Rs 10,000 crore over last year’s (2022-23) revised allocations of Rs 1,85,777 crore comes at a time when the ministry is looking at arming counter insurgent forces with better equipment and arms, creating a robust cyber patrolling system and strengthen intel gathering and coordination amongst law enforcement agencies and counter terror forces.

    A substantial amount has been allocated this time for improving infrastructure for the patrolling of international borders amidst increased enemy drone attacks, upgradation of law enforcing infrastructure and modernisation of police besides the paramilitary forces.

    The MHA is responsible for matters concerning internal security, central armed police forces, border management, disaster management, census, and centre-state relations.  In addition, the Ministry makes certain grants to union territories (UTs), since they are not covered by the Finance Commission’s recommendations on devolution and, thus, do not have any share in central taxes.  

    In the current budget major portions of the allocation amounting to Rs 1.28 lakh crore, has been earmarked for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) comprising the Assam Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Security Guard (NSG), and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The figure last year stood at Rs 1.19 crores.

    The increased allocation has come as a refreshing development for the CAPF that has been expecting more funds for infrastructure, technological advancement and security-related equipment — which includes drones, early warning systems, equipment to enhance reaction time, for better training, intelligence gathering and operations.

    The CRPF which is entrusted primarily with the task of internal security duties and fighting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Maoists backed left winged extremists (LWE) and other ultra outfits has been allocated Rs  31,772.23 crore in comparison to Rs 31,495.88 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards India’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh besides handling internal security assignments, has been given Rs 24,771.28 crore in comparison to Rs 23,557.51 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which protects vital installations such as nuclear projects, airports and metro networks, has been given Rs 13,214.68 crore in comparison to Rs 12,293.23 crore allocated in 2022-23.

    The Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards India’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan, has been allocated Rs 8,329.10 crore in comparison to Rs 8,019.78 crore given in 2022-23.

    The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), which guards the Sino-Indian border, got Rs 8,096.89 crore in comparison to Rs 7,626.38 crore given in the current fiscal.

    The Assam Rifles, which is deployed along the India-Myanmar border and for anti-insurgency duties in the Northeast, has been allocated Rs 7,052.46 crore in comparison to Rs 6,561.33 crore given in the current fiscal.

  • Two ITBP personnel injured in Manipur IED blast

    By PTI

    IMPHAL/NEW DELHI: Two personnel of border guarding force ITBP were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in poll-bound Manipur on Sunday, officials said.

    The incident was reported around 8 pm in the Wangoo Tera area of Kakching district, about 45 kms from state capital Imphal. Constables Gaurav Rai and Girija Shankar have been injured in the blast, they said.

    An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) party along with a state police personnel were conducting an area domination patrol when the blast took place, they said.

    The troops were part of the ‘E’ company of the 610 ITBP election battalion deployed for poll duties in the state.

    The injured troops are stated to be out of danger and have been admitted to the Kakching civil hospital. Assembly elections in the northeastern state will be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5. Counting of votes will be held on March 10.

  • ITBP deploys own engineering wing to construct Indo-China border roads, foot tracks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has taken a first-time decision to deploy its specialised engineering wing for constructing certain roads and foot tracks along the Line of Actual Control to speed up connectivity projects with its posts in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

    The move, which was approved by the Union home ministry, comes amid a military standoff with China in the eastern Ladakh area.

    Official sources told PTI that the border force, ITBP, has taken up the “challenge” to construct four out of the 32 roads under phase-II of the India-China Border Roads project and two out of the total 18 foot tracks sanctioned to it by the government.

    They said the roads of varying lengths of about one to two kilometres, connecting ITBP border posts in the Himalayan ranges, are in the Ladakh region’s 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China while the foot tracks, which are used by troops during patrols, are in the Arunachal Pradesh area.

    The engineers and supervisors of the ITBP wing will “plan and monitor” the entire work, and a ground force comprising labourers and masons will be hired according to government norms, sources said.

    Traditionally, road construction projects along these areas are carried out by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and other such agencies.

    Officials said the engineering wing of the force, an essential component of the ITBP since its raising in 1962, has been roped in for the task in order to speed up the border posts connectivity work.

    In these high-altitude and remote areas, getting contractors and construction workers is not that easy and hence, the work of border road construction remains slow, an officer explained.

    The government has stressed on the need to ensure connectivity through roads so that rations, transportation of troops and other logistics along the LAC can be easily moved.

    Therefore, this maiden attempt of engaging the ITBP engineering wing has been made, he said.

    The ITBP engineering wing, restructured over the years, is tasked to “take care of the construction of operational structures, including border outposts, residential and office buildings, solar lightings, power units and water heating systems, improvised micro-hydel power projects and green houses in snow-clad border areas apart from devising strategic defences around a border post.”

    Currently, the government has initiated the phase-II of the Indo-China Border Roads (ICBR) project that covers several roads, foot tracks and border posts.

    The first phase of ICBR was launched in 2005 under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and work on a number of roads, helipads and troop bases of this period is underway.

    According to official data, 538.50 kilometres of road have been laid along the China border till November last year.

    Union Minister of State for Home affairs Nityanand Rai had recently said during the 60th ITBP raising day on October 24 that the process to sanction new border battalions for the ITBP is in the “last stages”.

    He was referring to the last year central government sanction of 47 new border posts and a dozen staging camps (operational bases for troops undertaking border patrol) to the mountain-warfare trained paramilitary force.

    The about 90,000 personnel-strong ITBP was raised in the aftermath of the 1962 Chinese aggression.

  • 20 ITBP troops given gallantry medals for standoff clashes with China in Ladakh

    By PTI

    GREATER NOIDA: Twenty personnel of the India-China LAC guarding Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force, who displayed bravery during the violent clashes and ongoing military standoff between the two countries in the eastern Ladakh region in May-June 2020, were on Sunday decorated with police gallantry medals.

    Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai pinned the medals on the chests of the personnel and handed them certificates during the 60th Raising Day celebrations of the force here.

    These medals were announced on the eve of the Independence Day on August 14 this year.

    The central paramilitary is deployed shoulder-to-shoulder with the Army as part of its primary mandate to guard the 3,488 km-long icy Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    Out of the 20, eight personnel have been awarded the police medal for gallantry (PMG) for their gallant act, meticulous planning and tactical insightfulness and for defending the motherland in Galwan Nalla on June 15 last year, an spokesperson for the force said.

    Six personnel have been awarded with the PMG for gallant action during violent face-off on May 18 in the Finger IV area while the rest six have been decorated with the same medal for their gallant action near Hot Springs in Ladakh on the same day, the force had said earlier.

    It had said that in eastern Ladakh, the ITBP troops not only effectively used shields to protect themselves but also responded fiercely to Chinese PLA advancing troops and brought the situation under control during “fierce” face offs and skirmishes.

    “With highest order of professional skills, ITBP troops fought shoulder-to-shoulder and also brought the injured (Army) troops to the rear.

    “Even when the ITBP troops fought the whole night, they received minimum casualties by giving befitting reply to the stone pelters of the PLA,” the force said in their citation.

    At certain places, it said, they gave a “determined” standoff for about 17-20 hours throughout the intervening night (June 15-16) in extremely challenging conditions.

    “Due to the high-altitude training and survival experience of the force at the icy Himalayan deployments, ITBP troops kept the PLA troops at bay and due to the all out and befitting response of ITBP troops at several fronts, many areas were safeguarded.

    “The ITBP troops showed highest level of devotion, courage, determination, utter disregard to personal safety even in injured condition and exhibited great professional skills in the face of violent physical scuffle with the PLA,” it had said.

    Twenty Army soldiers were killed during these clashes while China has claimed the casualty figures on its side to be five, which is widely believed to be much higher.

    Three other ITBP personnel were also decorated with the PMG for displaying courage, grit and determination in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

    Deputy Inspector General (veterinary) Sudhakar Natarajan was also decorated with the police medal for meritorious service during the event for rendering exceptional service in the animal transport wing of the force, the lifeline for ensuring rations and logistics to its mountainous border deployments.

    Natarajan, who joined the ITBP in 1992, is credited with introducing the first batch of Belgian Malinois infantry patrol dogs in the ITBP, which was followed by all other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

    The about 90,000 personnel strong ITBP was raised on this day in 1962 in the aftermath of the Chinese agression.

  • ITBP recommends service termination of DIG who asked unarmed personnel to transport teak wood in Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has proposed the termination from the service of a DIG rank officer for his “involvement in corrupt practices” while deployed in a combat zone on anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh.

    It was late night on 12 December last year, when an ITBP lorry, carrying Teak (Sagwan) woods in big numbers, was obstructed by the villagers of Totalbharri in Maoist-affected Rajnandgaon district, about 120 km west of Raipur.

    The police and the forest officials the same night confiscated the wooden logs, seized the truck, registered a case and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on ITBP party onboard the vehicle.

    ITBP promptly took cognisance of the incident, ordered ‘Court of Inquiry’ to investigate the circumstances on using the lorry to “illegally” transport the Teak logs.

    Preliminary observation cited the involvement of DIG Chota Ram Jat who was then in charge of 44th battalion ITBP in Rajnandgaon to oversee the operations against outlawed CPI (Maoist). The DIG was then officially transferred to Leh on 28 December citing administrative reasons.

    As per the detail accessed by The New Indian Express, the ‘Court of Inquiry’ examined 36 witnesses. The internal probe indicted the DIG who placed orders sending five ITBP personnel including the driver without weapons on a truck to Totalbarri to “illegally” carry out loading, transporting of Teak wood. 

    “ITBP DIG Chota Ram Jat has compromised the security of ITBP personnel sending them to the Maoists-Affected area without proper security, violate laid down procedure on the movement of troops in such sensitive region and didn’t inform his higher authority. He misused his official position as DIG (anti-Maoist operations) and indulged in grave misconduct involving himself in illegal activities—illegally procured and transporting prohibited Teak wood in ITBP vehicle”, stated the inquiry documents.

    “We stand for zero tolerance against the unethical or corrupt practices”, said Vivek Pandey, ITBP public relations officer. 

    Owing to serious misconduct by the DIG, the ITBP rendered him as “undesirable for further retention in the service as he failed to perform with due integrity and devotion”.

    While recommending the termination of his services Jat has been served with a show-cause notice to submit his explanation.

    The environmentalists appreciated the speedy action initiated by ITBP.

    “There have been huge pending cases on illegal tree felling, smuggling of forest wood, wildlife poaching lying for the past 15-20 years but with little action taken. The ITBP did a commendable job taking a firm decision within nine months. They have indeed done a climate justice”, averred Nitin Singhvi, a nature lover.

  • Chhattisgarh: 26 ITBP jawans fall ill after consuming food at camp in Rajnandgaon

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: In a suspected case of food poisoning, 26 personnel of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) fell ill with after consuming meal at their camp in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district, officials said on Friday.

    While 21 of them were admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Khairagarh town of the district on Thursday evening, five others were hospitalised this morning, and the condition of all of them is said to be out of danger, a police official said.

    All of them belong to the ITBP’s 40th battalion and were stationed in Malaida camp of the security forces located in a Naxal-hit area along the Chhattisgarh-Madhya Pradesh border, around 150 kms away from capital Raipur, he said.

    “On Wednesday night, the ITBP jawans had dinner in the mess of the camp and consumed meat and paneer. Next day, some of them complained of diarrhoea and vomiting following which, 21 personnel were rushed to CHC Khairagarh, while five more personnel were admitted there this morning,” he said.

    The condition of all of them was reported to be out of danger, he added.

    “Prima facie, it seems that they fell sick due to food poisoning. However, the condition of all of them is stable and they were kept under observation,” Dr Vivek Bisen of the CHC Khairagarh told PTI.

    A medical team has been sent to the camp to ensure that if more jawans fall ill, they are provided immediate treatment, he said.

    Meanwhile, state Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has directed Rajanandagon Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP) to provide better medical treatment to the ill jawans, an official statement said.

  • Indian Army rescues 16 ITBP personnel stranded near India-China border

    By PTI

    PITHORAGARH (Uttarakhand): Sixteen ITBP personnel stranded due to inclement weather in Kuti valley near the Sino-India border were rescued on Saturday by the Panchshul brigade of the Indian Army.

    The ITBP personnel were patrolling in the rugged terrain of the valley when they were caught in bad weather, an Army officer said.

    “When our troops from Panchshul brigade learned that ITBP personnel had been trapped in the tough and rugged region of Kuti valley near the India-China border, they jumped immediately into action and rescued them swiftly,” Captain Kuldeep Singh of Panchshul brigade said.

  • Seventy-eight Afghanistan evacuees released from ITBP quarantine centre

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Seventy-eight people including Afghan nationals, who were evacuated from Afghanistan after Kabul fell to Taliban last month, were on Tuesday discharged from an ITBP facility here after they completed a 14-day quarantine rule in place to check the spread of coronavirus infection.

    The group includes 53 people from Afghanistan (34 men, nine women and 10 children), and 25 Indians (18 men, five women and 12 children), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) spokesperson Vivek Kumar Pandey said.

    They were handed over medical certificates and a red rose as they left the facility.

    These people were brought to this COVID-19 quarantine facility located in south-west Delhi’s Chhawla area on August 24 after they landed here onboard an evacuation flight operated by the Indian Air Force.

    The Afghan nationals have been sent to a designated location in south Delhi while the Indians are expected to go to their homes, a senior officer said.

    The facility still has 35 people, who returned from Afghanistan, under quarantine that includes 24 Indians and the rest from Nepal.

    This group is also expected to be discharged similarly on Wednesday, at the end of their 14-days quarantine period as mandated under existing COVID-19 medical protocol, the officer said.

    This ITBP quarantine centre was operationalised last year soon after the outbreak of COVID-19 and it has hosted over 1,200 people including foreigners from at least eight countries till now.

    The first batch of Indians and some foreigners returning from Wuhan in China were also quarantined here last year.

    The ITBP is a border guarding force under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and it is primarily tasked to guard the 3,488 km long Line of Actual Control with China apart from rendering a variety of roles in the internal security domain of the country.

  • Chhattisgarh Naxal attack: Assistant commandant among two ITBP personnel killed

    By PTI

    NARAYANPUR: An assistant commandant of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and his colleague were killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Friday, a senior police official said.

    The incident took place around 12.10 pm near Kademeta camp of 45th battalion of the ITBP under Chhotedongar police station limits, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P.

    As per the preliminary information, a squad of the ITBP’s 45th battalion, which was out on an area domination operation, was fired upon by a small action team of the ultras, when it was approximately 600 metres away from the camp, he said.

    “Assistant Commandant Sudhakar Shinde and Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Gurmukh Singh, both from the ITBP’s 45th battalion, were martyred in the firing,” the IG said.

    After the attack, the Naxals also looted and escaped with one AK-47 rifle, two bullet-proof jackets and one wireless set of the security personnel, he said.

    Reinforcement has been rushed to the spot and the bodies of martyred personnel were being evacuated, he added.

  • Afghan-returned ITBP canines to now serve in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Three combat canines who were part of the ITBP commando security contingent in Afghanistan will soon be deployed with the border guarding forces’ anti-Naxal operations unit operating in Chhattisgarh, officials said on Wednesday.

    The three dogs — Roobi (a female Belgian Malinois breed), Maya (female Labrador) and Bobby (male Doberman) — have been sent to a special dog kennel at the ITBP camp in south-west Delhi’s Chhawla area after they landed at the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad on Tuesday onboard a special military evacuation flight from the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

    The dogs served for about three years with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) commando contingent that guarded the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan capital Kabul and its diplomatic staff.

    “The three dogs detected many improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and protected the lives of not only Indian diplomats but also the local Afghan civilians working in the embassy. They will soon be deployed with ITBP units undertaking anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh,” an official source said.

    The dogs were raised and trained at the ITBP national training centre for dogs (NTCD) in Bhanu near Chandigarh before being sent for the overseas duty.

    The dogs were part of the 150 member Indian contingent, including 99 ITBP commandos, that took an IAF aircraft on Tuesday morning from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to reach Hindon via a refuelling halt at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

    With this de-induction, the entire strength of the force, that is primarily tasked to guard the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, has been withdrawn from that country including all the diplomats and Embassy staffers.

    India had deployed over 300 ITBP commandos for securing its Embassy, consulates and diplomats in Afghanistan. It was first deployed to secure the premises of the Kabul Embassy and its residents in November, 2002.

    It later sent its additional detachments to similarly guard Indian consulates located in Jalalabad, Kandhar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat.

    The detachments from the consulates have already been withdrawn after they were shut recently due to the current crisis in the country and also due to negligible footfall as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the globe.

    Some of the commandos came back from Kabul in earlier flights.