Army likely to replace Indo-Tibetan Border Police along Line of Actual Control

New Delhi: In a significant move aimed at countering the increasing threat and incidents of incursion by China’s People’s Liberation Army, the Union government is contemplating replacing the ITBP by the Army, particularly in the Ladakh sector, where maximum number of incidents of incursion have been reported.

The Army’s role in handling the recent crisis at Chumar has come in for appreciation as it took a tough stand on the issue of not letting the PLA troops to intimidate its soldiers. The Army had even successfully managed to set up an observation hut at a strategic location in the Chumar region.

Government sources said it was the Army’s prompt and immediate action that put a complete check on PLA’s plans for any further advancement into the Indian territory. Thus, there is now a growing view in the government that Army and not the ITBP should be made the “first line of defence’’ along the India-China border. The issue was discussed between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the officials of the defence and home ministry.