ITBP, one of the elite forces in world: Dorje

Leh, Sept 23: Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is not only one of oldest police forces in the country but also one of the elite forces in the world, according to chief executive councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Developmen Council T Dorje.

Talking to newspersons after inspecting the ITBP stall, put up as part of five-day long public information campaign launched by PIB, he said that apart from battling terrorism and guarding borders, the force is also engaged in peace keeping operations in Congo and Kosovo.

Deputy Commandant (ITBP) Randhir Singh said the force was originally conceived in 1962 immediately after the Sino-Indian border conflict as an integrated gureilla-cum-fighting force, completely self contained with its supplies, communication and intelligence units.

However, the force is performing multifarious duties although the major chunk of the force is deployed along the entire 3488 km stretch Indo-China border from Karakoram pass (Ladakh) to Dhipula in Arunachal Pradesh.

Besides, its commandoes are deployed in Afghanistan to provide security cover to Border Road Organisation (BRO) personnel. It is entrusted with protecting the Indian embassy in Kabul and the consulate General in Jalalabad.

The Deputy Commandant said the force was deployed in South Kashmir from 1989 to 2003 for combating insurgency.

ITBP personnel have been honoured with Shaurya Chakra, Sena medal, Padamshree, President's police medal, PM's life saving awards and national adventure awards.

The force has scaled the Mount Everest thrice and climbed more than 100 peaks in Himalayan ranges, Fujiyama in Japan, Acanagua in Argentina and other peaks in the Alps.

UNI