JOIN USAddressing a press conference here on the eve of the 49th Raising Day of the force, ITBP Director-General R K Bhatia said the border police has a total of 49 battalions but would require more to guard the 3,488 km Indo-China border and fulfil various duties of internal security, including anti-Naxal operations.
Bhatia said 19 more battalions are required and a proposal to raise 13 battalions has already been sent to the Home Ministry. He said the Centre has granted special allowance of
Rs 20 crore for purchase of special weapons like AK-47, bullet-proof and mine protected vehicles and night vision devices. The ITBP would also spend Rs 1.68 crore to upgrade it’s communication apparatus, including computers.
When asked to comment on Army chief V K Singh’s remark that China and Pakistan are major irritants, Bhatia said there was “no hostile actions on the Indo-China border unlike on the Indo-Pak border.” Refusing to be drawn into what Singh said, the ITBP chief responded that the issue also concerned the Ministry of External Affairs, Air Force and the Army.
“There is no such action (on the Indo-China border) which is not friendly,” he said, adding, “I am not speaking for the Army or the MEA. Guarding border is with the Army and I will not comment,” he quickly added.