20 ITBP troops given gallantry medals for stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh

On Sunday, twenty members of India-China LAC guarding Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) unit were awarded police gallantry medals for ir valour during dely skirmishes and ongoing military stand-off between two nations in eastern Lakh region in May-June 2020.

During force's 60th Raising Day ceremonies, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai pinned medals on personnel's chests and presented m with certificates. se medals were announced on eve of this year's Independence Day.

ITBP: 20 troops given gallantry medals for stand-off with China in Lakh

As a part of its primary responsibility to guard 3,488 km-long Line of Actual Control, central paramilitary is deployed shoulder to shoulder with Army. According to a force spokesperson, eight servicemen were awarded Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG) for ir courageous conduct, precise preparation, and tactical understanding while defending country in Galwan Nalla on June 15, last year.

PMG has been awarded to six men for gallant actions on May 18 in Finger IV area, while remaining six have been decorated with same medal for gallant actions near Hot Springs in Lakh on same day, according to military.

It h claimed that  ITBP troops not only effectively deployed shields to protect mselves in eastern Lakh but also retaliated vehemently to Chinese PLA vancing troops, bringing situation under control amid "fierce" face-offs and fights.

y maintained a "determined" stand-off in certain locations for around 17-20 hours over intervening night of June 15 and 16, 2020, under exceedingly difficult conditions, according to reports. ITBP troops kept PLA troops at bay due to force's high-altitude training and survival expertise during frigid Himalayan deployments, and numerous places were safeguarded due to ITBP troops' all-out and suitable response on several fronts.

 "With highest order of professional skills, ITBP troops fought shoulder-to-shoulder and also brought injured (Army) troops to rear. "Even when ITBP troops fought whole night, y received minimum casualties by giving befitting reply to stone pelters of PLA," force said.

" ITBP troops showed highest level of devotion, courage, determination, utter disregard to personal safety even in injured condition and exhibited great professional skills in face of violent physical scuffle with PLA," it h said.

During conflicts, twenty Army personnel were martyred, while China claimed five casualties on ir side, a count that is widely thought to be significantly more. Three or ITBP members were also awarded PMG for ir anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, where y showed daring, tenacity, and determination.

Deputy Inspector General (Veterinary) Sudhakar Natarajan was also awarded police medal for meritorious service during event for providing exceptional service in force's animal transport wing, which is responsible for ensuring rations and logistics to force's mountainous border deployments.

Natarajan is credited for introducing first batch of Belgian Malinois infantry patrol dogs to ITBP in 1992, which was followed by or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). In aftermath of Chinese aggression, ITBP, which numbered over 90,000 soldiers, was formed in 1962.

India's major border patrol organisation for its border with Tibet Autonomous Region is Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). It is one of India's five Central Armed Police Forces, established under CRPF Act on October 24, 1962, in aftermath of Sino-Indian War of 1962.

"Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force Act, 1992" was enacted by Indian Parliament in September 1996 to provide for formation and regulation of ITBP in order to ensure security of India's borders and affairs related to it. Balbir Singh, a police officer who h previously worked for Intelligence Bureau, was first Inspector General of ITBP.

ITBP, which began with four battalions and was restructured in 1978, has grown to 60 battalions, 15 sectors, and five frontiers as of 2018, with a sanctioned strength of 89,432.

ITBP patrols Indo-China border near Nathu La. force has been trained in civil medical camps, disaster management, and nuclear, biological, and chemical emergencies. ITBP members have served in UN peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Haiti, Western Sahara, Sudan, Afghanistan, and or places across world. ITBP has two battalions assigned to National Disaster Response Force.

With inputs from PTI 

(IMAGE: Twitter - Narendra Modi)