Greater Vigil On Frontier With China: Seven New Battalions Of Indo-Tibetan Border Police To Be Raised

The Union Government has approved the raising of seven new Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) battalions with 9000 troops to keep an eye on Chinese movements along the LAC, reported the Indian Express.

This new raising is in response to the increased aggressiveness of the Chinese across the entire stretch of Line-of Actual Control (LAC) since the 2020 Galwan clash.

The Chinese have prevented Indian Forces from patrolling up to their traditional patrolling points in the Charding Nullah and Depsang Plains area of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

In December last year, Indian and Chinese troops clashed in the Yangtse area of the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian Air Force fighter jets were also scrambled at the time of the Yangtse clashes to deter the Chinese. 

In 2020, the Union cabinet also approved the creation of 47 Border Outposts (BOPs) and 12 staging points along the China border.

Together, with the creation of Sector headquarters, BOPs and staging points, there will be an increase of 26 per cent in manpower, while the additional 9000 troops will lead to an increase of 10 per cent.

The report also quotes the Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande on the aggressive Chinese infrastructure development on their side of LAC.

“In terms of infrastructure development, that is going unabated. There is road infrastructure, helipads, and airfields including roads right up to the passes. One of the notable developments has been the G 695. The road or highway running parallel to the LAC will give him [China] the ability to not only move forces forward but also switch forces from one sector to another,” Gen Pande said.