New Delhi (NVI): Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said that the government was taking several steps to modernise the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) while enhancing the capacities of the force through various initiatives.
Presiding over the 58th Raising Day, Reddy said the capabilities of the force were being enhanced through initiatives such as imparting the training of Mandarin to 200 officers and jawans and the construction of ITBP priority roads at a rapid pace while 45 new roads had been sanctioned as ITBP priority roads at the cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
Reddy also took the salute of the Raising Day Parade and present on the occasion was DG of the force S S Deswal.
The Minister noted the diverse roles of ITBP in the current internal security context and said that the force’s contribution includes a wide range of tasks, from securing Indian embassies and consulates in foreign nations to providing security for Amarnath and Mansarovar Yatras, as well as operations in left-wing extremism areas and relief and rescue during disasters.
He hailed the raising of ITBP’s first all-women mountaineering team and said that this was a major step forward for women’s empowerment.
The ITBP having trained as a guerrilla war force and due to their great professionalism has also been deployed for protecting the Indian embassies abroad, Adding that ITBP has also raised two NDRF Battalions for rescue work in Himalayan range.
The Parade comprised of all Frontier Contingents of the Force including women, commando, skiing, mountaineering and paratroopers’ contingents besides the dog squad and mounted columns.
The parade showcased different aspects of the force, including recently inducted machines and equipment, snow scooters, all-terrain vehicles, different high-end SUVs, Pol Net and various communication and surveillance equipment.
ITBP was raised on 24 October, 1962 in the wake of Chinese aggression on Indo-China border. It was initially raised for reorganising the frontier intelligence, preventing illegal intrusion and smuggling and security set up along the Indo-Tibetan border as a guerrilla force.
–rb
