Indo-Tibetan Border Police was raised on October 24, 1962 for reorganizing the frontier intelligence and security set up along the Indo-Tibetan border. Only four Battalions were sanctioned to begin with.
ITBP was initially raised under the CRPF Act. However, in 1992, parliament enacted the ITBPF Act and the rules there under were framed in 1994.
ITBP presently has 60 service Battalions, 4 Specialist Battalions, 17 Training Centres and 07 logistics establishments with a total strength of approx. 88,432 personnel.
In the year 2004, in pursuance of GoM recommendations on “One Border One Force”, the entire stretch of the India-China Border comprising 3488 Kms was assigned to the ITBP for Border Guarding duty and, accordingly, ITBP, replaced Assam Rifles in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in 2004.
The motto of the Force is “Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha”.
IMPORTANT DUTIES-
- Vigil on the northern borders,detection and prevention of border violations, and promotion of the sense of security among the local populace.
- Check illegal immigration , trans-border smuggling and crimes.
- Security to sensitive installations, banks and protected persons.
- Restore and preserve order in any area in the event of disturbance.
ROLL IN BRIEF-
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 (New Delhi), LBSNAA 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.
ITBP is also providing security, communication and medical cover to the pilgrims during the Annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra since 1981.
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 also at the forefront of the movement for the preservation of the Himalayan environment ecology.
SACRIFICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS-
The Force has earned number of decorations like Padmashree-7, Kirti Chakra-2 Shaurya Chakra-6, Sena Medal-1, President’s Police Medal for Gallantry-19,President’s Police and Fire Service Medals for Gallantry-2, Police Medal for Gallantry -131, Parakram Padak-79,Sarvottam Jeewan Raksha Padak – 02,Uttam Jeewan Raksha Padak – 16,Jeewan Raksha Padak -11, Prime Minister’s Life Saving Medal-86,Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award -14,Union Home Minister’s Special Ops Medal-276 etc. for its numerous achievements in the past.
