Profile of Indian Paramilitary Forces – IV Indo Tibetan Border Police
31 Jan, 2002 · 688
Mallika Joseph profiles the ITBP which mans the Indo-Tibetan border having altitudes ranging from 9000 to 18000 feet and temperatures going below minus 40 degrees Celsius
The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force came into existence on 24th October 1962 to secure the 2115 km long Indo-Tibetan border from the Karakoram Pass to Lipulekh Pass and the tri-junction of India, Nepal and China. Though initially raised under the CRPF Act, the ITBPF Act was enacted by the Parliament in 1992 and new rules were framed in 1994.
Jammu and Kashmir
. Their personnel have been part of the Indian contingents to UN peacekeeping missions in
Bosnia
,
Kosovo , Herzegovina
,
Angola
and
Western Sahara
. Whilst being deployed in
Jammu and Kashmir
, the ITBP arrested 63 militants and helped in the surrender of 22 others. In the process, the Force lost 27 of its personnel, in addition to 63 being wounded.
Mount
Kailas
and
Manasarovar
Lake
in
Tibet
. Being the only human presence in large areas of these mountains, the ITBP has undertaken large-scale greening of the inner
Himalayas
, and done its utmost to preserve the environment and ecology of the region.
ITBP
Academy
at Mussourie, and a Mountaineering and Skiing Institute at Auli to conduct indoor and outdoor training activities. Human rights form a part of the syllabi at all training institutes and, to date, no case has been reported against the ITBP alleging illegal detention, arbitrary arrest, torture, disappearance or extra judicial killings.
The duties of the ITBP include vigil on the Indo-Tibetan borders, detection and prevention of border violations, promotion of a sense of security among the local population, checking illegal immigration, trans-border smuggling and crimes, and securing sensitive installations. In addition to being deployed on the Indo-Tibetan border, the ITBP is also deployed in
The ITBP carries out its duties in very inhospitable terrain with altitudes ranging from 9000 to 18000 feet, with the surface routes remaining cut off during the winter months. Most of the ITBP forward posts experience frequent snow blizzards, avalanches, and landslides; and its personnel are exposed to the hazards of high altitude and extreme cold with temperatures going below minus 40 degrees Celsius
Being deployed in such hostile terrain, the ITBP has developed expertise in rescue and relief operations in the mountains which was put to test during at least two major rescue and relief operations in the recent past: the massive landslide at Malpa village in the Kumaon Hills in August-September 1998, and the major earthquake in Chamoli and Rudraprayag areas of Garhwal in March-April 1999. Having the expertise in policing the mountains at such high altitudes, the ITBP has been placed in charge of the annual pilgrimage to
In the course of their duty, ITBP personnel have received several gallantry awards, including 3 President’s Police Medals for Gallantry, 51 President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service and a number of other honours, including the Padam Shree, Shaurya Chakra and Sena Medal.
The ITBP has a strength of 30,356 personnel in 25 Service Battalions, 4 Specialist Battalions and 3 Training Centres. It has one Basic Training Center at Bhanu, an
The budget for the year 2000-2001 was approved for Rs. 173 crores (US$ 38.4 million). This is less than half the previous year’s budget which stood at Rs. 394 crores.
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