New Delhi: High speed boats is being
procured by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, deployed along the
country's border with China, for its newly created water wing
to man lakes, rivers and hot springs in the Himalayan region.
"We had asked the government to give us a water wing so
that we can patrol along the large water bodies on the border.
Government has accepted it. We are now raising it. It is not
operational yet. We will be buying high speed boats. Personnel
will also be trained for it," Director General of ITBP Ranjit
Sinha told reporters on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference on the occasion of ITBP's
50th raising day, the ITBP chief said that the force is on an
expansion mode and in the process of acquiring the latest
equipment.
"We require new equipment as our boys are posted in very
difficult areas. Sometimes they have to go out during night
time or if they are moving in naxal affected areas, so they
require a special type of equipment. We have given the
specification and the government has allowed us to do it
internally," Sinha said.
About 55,000 personnel strong mountain range force guards
the 3488 Km long Indo-China border from Karakoram pass in
Ladakh region to Jechap La in Arunachal Pradesh.
Besides, it is involved in internal security related
duties like anti naxal operations, security of vital
installations and VVIPs, election duties and disaster
management among others.
"We are on expansion mode. 13 new battalions have been
sanctioned for us. We will expand in phases. By 2015, all the
personnel under this plan will be inducted.
"We were facing manpower crunch as the force has got new
duties in naxal operations, disaster management, VVIP
protection. New battalions will help us there. There will also
be some relief for our personnel posted on high altitudes.
There will be rotation giving them some relief," he said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, October 22, 2011, 18:09