ITBP puts into operation one command each in C’garh, Guwahati

nNEW DELHI: As the standoff between the armed forces of India and China continues at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Indotibet Border Police (ITBP) has operationalised its newly sanctioned commands in Chandigarh and Guwahati for better supervision of troop deployment.

The cabinet had, in October 2019, approved two new commands -- the Western Command at Chandigarh and Eastern Command at Guwahati -- to be headed by an additional director general (ADG) rank officer in the ITBP. .

In an order issued on June 3, ITBP director general S S Deswal said: an “imperative need is felt to make these establishments functional immediately”. Inspector general (operations) M S Rawat will take over charge of the western command in Chandigarh with immediate effect “in the capacity of ADG”, the order said.

Another IG rank officer will soon head the Guwahati-based eastern command, an official said. The commands will streamline operations, intelligence, deployment and administrative movements of ITBP personnel to the border regions and also bring better synergy with the army that secures LAC, the officer added.

ITBP currently has no ADG rank officer posted with it so a decision was taken to deploy IG rank officers.

Officials said the recent standoff between Indian and Chinese forces in the Ladakh area and other parts of the LAC was a major reason for the quick initiation of the two commands.

ITBP has recently augmented its strength at border posts owing to the standoff with Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

There are three ADG posts in the force at present and none is occupied as the Delhi high court has ordered a stay on the appointment of Indian Police Service officers to paramilitary or Central Armed Police Forces of the rank of inspector general and above.

While sanctioning the two commands on October 23, 2019, the Union cabinet had also sanctioned about 60 posts of officer ranks in the force.

The western command will have control over ITBP deployments in Dehradun-based Northern Frontier.

The ADG rank officer is equivalent to a lieutenant general in the army.