The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Force was raised on 24 October, 1962. At present, the ITBP guards 3,488 km long India-China borders ranging from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Apart from this, the Force also has important roles in many internal security duties and operations against the Left Wing Extremism in the state of Chhattisgarh.
Most of the ITBP’s Border Out Posts (BOPs) are located at altitudes ranging from 9,000 ft to 18,800 ft where temperatures drop to minus 45 degrees Celsius in extreme winters.
ITBP is a specialized Armed Police Force of the Nation which trains its personnel in various disciplines including mountaineering and skiing apart from intensive tactical training, thereby creating a distinctive image of the Force.
ITBP also conducts relief and rescue operations as 'First Responders' for natural calamities in the Himalayan region. The Force has responded in hundreds of search, rescue & relief operations over the years to provide succour to thousands of citizens in distress due to various calamities.
The Force has a glorious history of the past 6 decades in which the jawans of the ITBP have made many sacrifices in the line of duty and in the service of the Nation.
(i) Safeguard and security of borders of India and promote sense of security among the people living in border areas.
(ii) Prevent trans-border crimes, smuggling, unauthorized entry into or Exit from the territory of India and any other illegal activity.
(iii) Provide security to sensitive installations, banks and persons of security risk.
(iv) Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance therein.
1.Vigil on the northern borders,detection and prevention of border violations, and promotion of the sense of security among the local populace.
2.Check illegal immigration , trans-border smuggling and crimes.
3.Security to sensitive installations, banks and protected persons.
4.Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance.
Presently ITBP has been guarding India-China border in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states from the Karakoram pass in Jammu Kashmir to Jechap La in Arunachal Pradesh. The altitude of ITBP BOPs ranges from 9,000 ft to 18,750 ft where the temperature dips to (-) 45 degrees Celsius.
ITBP Battalions are also providing security to various installations of national importance throughout the country, which includes Rashtrapati Bhawan, Vice President House, Rumtek Monastery (Sikkim), Tihar Jail (N Delhi), LBSNAA (UKD) and various sensitive installations in Chandigarh (Punjab) Jammu (J&K).
In view of increased Maoist activities in various parts of the Country, ITBP was inducted in District Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh) in December 2009 to thwart naxal menace. At present, 8 Bns are deployed in Rajnandgaon, Narayanpur Kondagaon Districts of Chhattisgarh.
At present, a well equipped and highly trained team of elite commandos are deployed in Afghanistan for providing security to the Indian Embassy in Kabul.
ITBP has also excelled in UN peacekeeping operations. The Force personnel were deployed for peacekeeping operations in Angola, Namibia, Cambodia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Mozambique and Kosovo. A National Centre for UNCIVPOL training has been setup at ITBP Camp, Tigri and New Delhi for providing systematic training to Indian Police Officers for deployment in UN Mission.
ITBP is also providing security, communication and medical cover to the pilgrims during the Annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1981. ITBP provides communication, security and medical cover to the yatries from Gunji to Lipulekh Pass and back to Gunji in co-ordination with MEA and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. Since 2015, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is also being conducted from Nathula route and ITBP is providing similar assistance for pilgrims in this route also.
Being the first responder for natural Disasters in the Himalayas, ITBP was the first to establish 7 Regional Response Centres and carried out numerous rescue and relief operations in all disaster situations, which took place in our areas of responsibility as well as other parts of the country. In a historic rescue and relief operation in 2013, the ITBP saved 33,009 pilgrims from grave situations from Char Dham yatra routes in Uttarakhand in the 15 day rescue effort by the Force. 15 Himveers laid down their lives on 25th June, 2013 in a Helicopter crash during this rescue operation.
ITBP conducts a large number of medical civic action programmes in remote border and terrorist/naxal affected areas to provide free and expert medical, health and hygiene care to the civilian population in remote villages.
ITBP is at the forefront of the movement for the preservation of the Himalayan environment ecology. ITBP has taken up in a big way the task of greening the Himalayan regions especially in the Inner Himalayas. Being the only human presence on forward areas, it has taken on itself the task of maintaining the delicate balance of flora and fauna.
