Indo Tibetan Border Police(ITBP)

In news : Recently, ITBP rescued 12 persons trapped in Tapovan Tunnel

About the Indo-Tibetan border Police(ITBP)

• • Origin: Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on October 24, 1962 for reorganizing the frontier intelligence and security set up along the Indo-Tibetan border.  Only four Battalions were sanctioned to begin with. 
  • Statutory backing: ITBP was initially raised under the CRPF Act. However, in 1992, parliament enacted the  Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992  and the rules there were framed in 1994.
  • The motto of the Force is “Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha” (Valour – Determination – Devotion to Duty). 

• One Border One Force: In the year 2004, in pursuance of GoM recommendations on “One Border One Force”, the entire stretch of India-China Border comprising 3488 Kms was assigned to the ITBP for Border Guarding duty and, accordingly, ITBP, replaced Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in 2004.

Functions & Tasks of ITBP

• Vigil on the northern borders,detection and prevention of border violations, and promotion of the sense of security among the local populace.
• Check illegal immigration , trans-border smuggling and crimes.
• Security to sensitive installations, banks and protected persons.
• Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance.

Current status

Presently ITBP has been guarding India-China border in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states from the Karakoram pass in Jammu & Kashmir to Jechap La in Arunachal Pradesh. The altitude of ITBP BOPs ranges from 9,000 ft to 18,750 ft where temperature dips to (-) 45 degree Celsius.

ITBP Battalions

ITBP Battalions are also providing security to various installations of national importance throughout the country, which includes 

• Rashtrapati Bhawan
• Vice President House
• Rumtek Monastery (Sikkim)
• Tihar Jail (N Delhi)
• LBSNAA (UKD) and 
• Various sensitive installations in Chandigarh (Punjab) & Jammu (J&K).

Role in controlling Maoist activities 

• In view of increased Maoist activities in various parts of the Country, ITBP was inducted in District Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh) in December 2009 to thwart naxal menace. 
• At present, 8 Bns are deployed in Rajnandgaon, Narayanpur & Kondagaon Districts of Chhattisgarh.

Protection to Indian Embassy

• At present, a well equipped and highly trained team of elite commandos are deployed in Afghanistan for providing security to the Indian Embassy in Kabul and 4 Consulates General.

UN peacekeeping

• ITBP has also excelled in UN peacekeeping operations. 
• The Force personnel were deployed for peacekeeping operations in Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Mozambique and Kosovo. 
• A National Centre for UNCIVPOL training has been set up at ITBP Camp, Tigri and New Delhi for providing systematic training to Indian Police Officers for deployment in UN Mission.

Security to Pilgrims 

• ITBP has also provided security, communication and medical cover to the pilgrims during the Annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1981. 
• ITBP provides communication, security and medical cover to the yatries from Gunji to Lipulekh Pass and back to Gunji in coordination with MEA and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. 
• Since 2015, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also being conducted from Nathula route and ITBP is providing similar assistance for pilgrims in this route also.

Role in natural Disaster in Himalayas

• Being the first responder for natural disasters in the Himalayas, ITBP was the first to establish 7 Regional Response Centres and carried out numerous rescue and relief operations in all disaster situations, which took place in our areas of responsibility as well as other parts of the country. 
• In a historic rescue and relief operation in 2013, the ITBP saved 33,009 pilgrims from grave situations from char dham yatra routes in Uttarakhand in the 15 day rescue effort by the Force. 

Medical civic action programmes

• ITBP conducts a large number of medical civic action programmes in remote border and terrorist/naxal affected areas to provide free and expert medical, health and hygiene care to the civilian population in remote villages.

Preservation of Himalayan environment & ecology

• ITBP is at the forefront of movement for the preservation of Himalayan environment & ecology. ITBP has taken up in a big way the task of greening the Himalayan regions especially in Inner Himalayas. 
• Being the only human presence on forward areas, it has taken on itself the task of maintaining the delicate balance of flora and fauna.