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The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is an Indian paramilitary force conceived on October 24, 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, border covering 2115 kilometers.
Only four battalions were sanctioned to begin with, to fill up the security vacuum that was prevalent at that time on the Indo - Tibet border. Later in view of the additional responsibilities and the task redefined in 1976, the Force was restructured in 1978.
The ITBP is trained in mountaineering, disaster management, and nuclear, biological and chemical disasters. ITBP personnel have been deployed abroad in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina ,Kosovo, Haiti, Sudan, and elsewhere.
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ITBP is a multi-dimensional force which primarily has 4 functions-
Presently, Battalions of ITBP are deployed on Border Guarding Duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Diphu La in Arunachal Pradesh, covering 3488 km of the India-China Border. Manned border posts are at altitudes as high as 21000’ in the Western, Middle & Eastern Sector of the border. ITBP is a mountain trained force and most of the officers & men are professionally trained mountaineers and skiers. The force is under an expansion plan in order to provide relief to its troops from constant deployment in high altitude areas.
ITBP's major training centre is located at Mussoorie, in Utarakhand. The Training Academy has been established in 1976, and imparts training to Officers, Subordinate officers, and promotional course. Specialised training programes in rock craft, explosives handling etc are also conducted here. Keeping in view the evolving security scenario of the country, ITBP has established a Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at an altitude of 6000 feet in the heart of extremely tough Himalayan mountains, at Mahidanda in Uttarkashi district. The CIJW school provides state of the art training to ITBP's men and officers to enable them to take on the 21st century's security challenges in the form of anti Naxal Ops. Jungle Warfare, Handling of explosives,Rock craft, Survival in adverse conditions, Un armed Combat, and Guerilla warfare are some of the subjects trained here.The training regime is extremly demanding both mentally and physically, needing special preparation. The presence of the force along the Indo China border, maintains vigil along the extremely difficult high altitude border area. The troops of the force keeps a sharp eye on any violation of the border, trans border smuggling, and affords a sense of security to the remotely located isolated settelments. The altitude where the troops are deployed range up to 18800 feet, and the temperature plummets to minus 30 degrees during winter with snow fall of more than ten feet. The force is synonymous with adventure and dare-devilry and has undertaken countless mountaineering expeditions. These expeditions require skill and highest levels of professional standard. ITBP's officers and men are a class apart in mountaineering and ranks among the best in the world, with almost all the mmountains above 20000 feet in the Himalayas, including Mt Everes, conquered four times over. Its skiers have been national champions, who have done India proud in the winter Olympics. Its river rafters have created international history in rafting through the turbulent white waters of the mighty Brahmaputra, the Indus and the Ganga. The Force has created a milestone by becoming the first Central Para Military Force to grab up the Best Marching Contingent Trophy in the Republic Day parades in 1998, 1999 and 2000. It broke new ground in 1998 when it sent the first ever police tableau of the country to participate in the Republic Day Parade. ITBP is in the forefront of movement for the preservation of Himalayan environment & ecology. ITBP has taken up in a big way the task of greening the Himalayan regions especially in Inner Himalayas. Being the only human presence in areas close to China border, it has taken on itself the task of maintaining the delicate balance of flora and fauna.
ITBP being deployed in mountains has developed the expertise in rescue & relief operations in mountains, which entail different specialized skills of very high standard. It is always first in extending rescue & relief in case of natural calamity. ITBP conducts a large number of civic action programmes in remote border and terrorist affected areas to provide free and expert medical, health and hygiene care to the civilian population in remote villages.
ITBP Academy has been given the status of ‘Centre of Excellence’ by
the Government of India and now is on the path of modernization of
its training infra- structure. Till June 2004, the Academy has
trained 3785 GOs, 7776 SOs and 27476 Other Ranks from ITBP and
CPOs/ State Police Forces.
ITBP training centres develop and inculcate thoroughly amongst the trainees the qualities of: Professional skills, esprit de corps,leadership. They are taught the values of integrity, impartiality and respect for all castes, creeds and religions . Maintaining the highest tradition of supreme sacrifice in the service of motherland the valiant Himveers are also taught to function effectively while always keeping in mind human rights and the codes of war which always guide their conduct. so as to make us a formidable force in maintaining the security & territorial integrity of India The Basic Training Center at Bhanu, ITBP Academy at Mussourie, and the Mountaineering & Skiing Institute at Auli run the training programmes and conduct indoor and outdoor training activities, in pursuance of this mission
The motto of the ITBP, Shaurya, dridata, karm nishtha (Valour, determination, devotion to duty) has always inspired its men in accepting challenges to bring glory to the nation and honour to the force. In the course of active duties, the force has earned a number of Civil and Service honours, and decorations like Padma Shree - 2, Shaurya Chakra - 1, Sena Medal - 1, President's Police Medal for Gallantry - 3, Police Medal for Gallantry - 44, President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service - 63, Police Medal for Meritorious Service - 292 and the Prime Minister's Life Saving Medal - 54.
ITBP has undergone a massive expansion plan to provide much needed relief to its troops who remain deployed in the tough high altitude terrain for most part of their service. 13 units were raised in the year 2006-07, followed by another 7 units the following year.
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   | ''India preparing force to deal with nuclear disasters'', Daily Times (Pakistan), November 30, 2005 - Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan |
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