ITBP’s Western Command celebrates first raising day

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10

Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force’s (ITBP) Western Command celebrated its first raising day here today. The command was established in June last year in the middle of the stand-off with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh.

The function was presided over by SS Mishra, Inspector-General (Personnel and Administration). AK Gautam, Inspector-General (Operations, Intelligence and Training), along with other officers from the Command as well as ITBP’s Basic Training Centre at Bhanu, 50 Battalion, Ramgarh, 51 Battalion, Patiala, and Transport Battalion, Chandigarh, were also present on the occasion.

The mandate of the Command is to ensure effective security of the border with China in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, in addition to preventing border crimes, smuggling and unauthorised crossings, besides providing security cover to important dignitaries and installations.

Following a cadre review that was approved by the Cabinet in October 2019, two new commands, one based in Chandigarh and the other in Guwahati for the eastern theatre, were raised. These are to be headed by officers of the rank of ADG, equivalent to a lieutenant general in the Army.

The Western Command controls the Dehradun-based Northern Frontier comprising Shimla, Dehradun and Bareilly sectors and the North-West Frontier, recently moved from Chandigarh to Leh, which comprises of Srinagar and Ladakh sectors.