Indo-Tibetan Border Police Unveils Mechanised Column For Deployment On China Border

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITPB) exhibited its maiden mechanised column of power vehicles and machines along with their stealthy PARA commandos on the day of its fifty-sixth Raising Day celebrations on 24 October 2017.

The array included its newly obtained fleet of military trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and various two-wheelers useful for mobility in high-altitude terrains. Home Minister Rajnath Singh graced the occasion for the first time in its 50-year history.

The newly formed military-combat wing of the paramilitary forces underwent a mechanisation drive wherein the Home Ministry approved the plan to deploy around 250 SUVs, ATVs, snow scooters, excavators and other vehicles. They would help man the 3,488km high-altitude border along with China.

Officials have maintained that they need to employ a modernised artillery unit in this region. So the government approved the procurement of state-of-the-art weaponry and border infrastructure so as to better withstand the first onslaught in times of conflict.

The decision was taken at the Army Commanders’ conference in light of the recent Doklam stand-off, besides measuring security preparedness. The force has 30 border outposts above the height of 15,000 feet and 50 outposts above the height of 12,000 feet. A senior ITPB official has said that in the coming future, many more such vehicles and machines would be procured to notch up the border infrastructure.