ITANAGAR: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), in an internal report has pinpointed 19 ‘sensitive’ areas along the China frontier from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
These spots are deemed susceptible to potential incursions by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) during the summer months, The Telegraph reported.
“The report has been prepared with inputs taken from the force’s intelligence wing. We are already in the process of sending additional reinforcement to these high-altitude 19 sensitive spots to fortify our positions,” an ITBP official was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
“According to the intelligence, these spots could witness transgression by the PLA once snow starts melting during summer,” the ITBF official added.
Since May 2020, the Indian and Chinese armies have been engaged in a border standoff in eastern Ladakh.
It is reported that the China’s PLA has changed the unmarked Line of Actual Control (LAC) and has allegedly occupied approximately 1000 square kilometres of territory claimed by India.
The official stated that both the army and ITBP are constructing new border posts and enhancing operational and infrastructure capabilities at these sensitive locations to deter any potential incursions.
Responsible for safeguarding the 3488-kilometer-long China frontier spanning Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, the ITBP serves as the primary line of defence, with the army positioned behind it.
In previous instances, China’s PLA has made efforts to breach the border in certain areas among these identified 19 spots.
“The ground situation in eastern Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh is very tense. The army and ITBP are keeping a tight vigil with surveillance cameras at forward border posts in high-altitude areas,” another ITBP official was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
According to intelligence reports, China’s PLA has been encroaching further into territory claimed by India, demonstrating an escalating pattern of transgression into the country.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing military standoff in Ladakh, a notable incident took place in December 2022 when the PLA attempted incursions into the Yangtze area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector.
This resulted in a clash between troops from both nations, leaving approximately 20 Indian soldiers injured.
The altercation occurred when over 500 Chinese troops allegedly breached the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and initiated vandalism of Indian military installations.
Despite this, the Indian army successfully thwarted the transgression attempt.