The Modi government has ordered shifting of a critical command centre of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) from its current base in Chandigarh to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, Times of India has reported.
The ITBP, a 90,000-strong force, is responsible for guarding the 3,488-km long Sino-India border in peace times. North-West frontier headquarters of ITBP is located at Chandigarh and is headed by an Inspector General (IG) of police rank officer.
The command has been asked to move 'lock, stock, and barrel' by March-end and is likely to be operationalised at the new location from 1 April. The 14 Corps of the Indian Army is also based in Leh district.
"We have to be on the border and that is why the frontier is being sent to the forward area," Director General (DG) of ITBP SS Deswal was quoted in the report as saying.
According to report, Army, having carved out a separate Corps in Leh after Jammu and Srinagar following the Kargil intrusion in 1999, has been demanding operational control over the ITBP. However, union government had repeatedly rejected this proposal of army.
Having the ITBP and the Army at the same operational location will resolve these issues as well, the report cited sources as saying.
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