TAWANG: Having already given a bloody nose to the People’s Liberation Army troops in eastern Ladakh during clashes in the ongoing conflict, the ITBP in the sensitive Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh says its men were in a mode of high preparation in the real control line (LAC) and China will not be able to give surprises in this sector.
On a visit to the advance messages In LAC from where the Chinese territory could be seen in the Tawang sector, the ANI Team witnessed the high levels of preparation of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troops and the infrastructure developed for rapid deployments here in the end times.
“When the incidents (transgression by Chinese army in eastern Ladakh) so it happens, we have to stay on high alert mode so that unforeseen incidents are not allowed and there are no surprises. As you can see, although there are extreme cold conditions that make things difficult, our men are on very high alert and guard the border all the time, “ITBP battalion 55 commander, Commander IB Jha, told ANI at a location advanced here.
“No one here can surprise us. We have made a commitment to the country to protect it and we are fulfilling our duties and maintaining high levels of preparedness,” the official added.
The ITBP has played an important role in the current conflict with Chinese troops both in eastern Ladakh and in LAC in Arunachal Pradesh.
In the initial violent clashes, the ITBP had multiple encounters with Chinese troops attempting to transgress in Pangong lake, Finger zone and Patrol Points 14,15, 17 and 17A.
During hand-to-hand combat, despite being outnumbered, they not only impeded the advance of Chinese troops, but also caused several injuries on the Chinese side.
Commander Jha He said that the bravery shown by ITBP troops in the first clashes with the Chinese in the time period from April to May has greatly inspired the troops deployed in the Arunachal sector.
“Our troops fought hard in the Ladakh sector and they showed their mettle. Troops here often tell me that their counterparts in Ladakh fought hard and also want a chance to do better than they do if an opportunity presents itself in our area of responsibility.” . he said.
The ITBP official said the preparations made by them throughout the year would ensure that they too can do the same when the time comes.
In visiting the outposts near LAC, the ANI team came very close to the zero point from where they could see the Chinese roads that they use to enter vehicles into Indian territory.
While showing the patrolling carried out by ITBP troops in that area, Commander Jha said that the development of infrastructure by the Indian side in recent years now allows Indian troops to also move very close to the last point or zero points in the LAC in the Tawang sector.
The ANI team was able to see that the Indian armed forces vehicles were also approaching within a few hundred meters of the LAC, allowing them to respond to situations quickly.
“Whether it’s clothing or infrastructure, a lot of work has been done in this regard in recent times. As you could see that our vehicles could visit to the last point, this helps to respond to situations quickly without fatigue,” Commander Jha said. said.
The Tawang sector is one of the most sensitive sectors in Northeast LAC and in the 1962 war, the Chinese had managed to penetrate deep into the Indian areas at that time. However, given the sensitive nature of the sector, a whole Indian Army Corps it is almost completely deployed in and around Tawang to avoid any misfortune on the part of the adversary.
The Tezpur-based Gajraj corps has almost all its formations scattered throughout the sector and the high level of readiness of the Indian Army can also be seen in the sector. The Corps currently commanded by Lieutenant General Shantanu Dayal it had been rapidly deployed to forward locations shortly after the Chinese aggression in the Ladakh sector.
The coordination between the ITBP and the Indian Army could be seen very closely as they both inform each other about their respective activities in the area and the activities of the Chinese near their areas of operation.
During the visit to the forward locations, the ANI Team was able to see the ITBP soldiers patrolling their own territory to the last pint on their own side of LAC despite freezing winds at a speed of around 40-50 knots. .
In the vegetated areas near LAC where the snowfall has recently started, ITBP troops have started patrolling in snow suits that allow them to operate even in cold and icy temperatures.
To provide supplies to troops deployed in areas inaccessible by roads in the higher reaches, the ITBP uses its ‘fleet’ of Yaks, which are one of the most reliable means of transportation in high altitude areas. The animals can carry up to 90 kilograms of rations and supplies and can reach the top of hills and remote places in no time.
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