What is the Special Frontier Force also known as Establishment 22 and Vikas Battalion
New Delhi, Sep 03: There are reports that the Special Frontier Force (SFF) referred to as the Vikas Battalion had been instrumental in occupying some key heights along the Line of Actual Control. The action was taken to prevent any occupation by the Chinese troops.
The SFF is a special force that was created on November 14 1962 and the main goal was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in the event of another Indo-China war.
Formation:
It was on the advise of Intelligence Bureau Chief Bhola Nath Mullik that the SFF was formed. SFF is also referred to as Establishment 22 or 22 because its first Inspector General, Major General Sujan Singh Uban had commanded the 22nd Mountain Division in Europe during World War II.
A
new
name:
Subsequently the force was re-named as the Special Frontier Force and it now falls under the purview of the Cabinet Secretariat. It is headed by an Inspector General, who is an Army officer in the rank of Major General. It may be recalled that former Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh had held that office at one point during his service. The units that comprise the SFF are known as Vikas Battalions.
Highly trained personnel:
The
SFF
units
are
not
part
of
the
Army,
but
function
under
the
operational
command
of
the
Indian
Army.
The
units
have
their
own
rank
structures,
which
have
an
equivalent
status
with
the
Army
ranks.
The
personnel
are
highly
trained
and
can
undertake
various
tasks
which
are
normally
performed
by
any
special
forces
unit.
Women
soldiers
are
also
part
of
the
SFF
and
perform
specialised
tasks.
The
SFF
has
its
own
training
establishment,
where
the
recruits
are
trained.
The
1971
operation:
In the 1971 war, the SFF operated along the Chittagong hill tracts in East Pakistan, which went to become Bangladesh. The SFF was posted to neutralise the army positions of Pakistan. This helped the Indian Army advance ahead.
The
operation
was
code
named,
'Operation
Eagle.' The
forces
were
airlifted
into
operational
areas
and
infiltrated
behind
enemy
lines
to
destroy
the
communication
lines
of
the
Pakistan
Army.
The
force
also
played
a
major
part
in
preventing
the
escape
of
the
Pakistan
army
personnel
from
Bangladesh
into
Burma.
In
this
operation,
estimates
suggest
that
3,000
personnel
of
the
Special
Frontier
Force
were
used
in
the
covert
operations.
Other operations:
There are many other major operations that the SFF has carried out. The force took part in Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The force was also part of the Kargil War. While these are some of the known operations, there are many more counter insurgency operations that the SFF had participated in, which remain classified.
Following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the SFF was briefly used for VIP security around the Prime Minister. This role was later handed over to the Special Protection Group (SPG). In the year 1975 a new rule was issued that prohibited the SFF from being deployed within 10 kilometres of the India-China border unless under explicit instructions.