New formations to fortify Sikkim tri-junction bordering Bhutan, Tibet
The Centre has sanctioned raising of a dozen new battalions (about 13,000 personnel) for the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) over the next four years. The SSB guards the frontiers along Nepal and Bhutan.
The new battalions will mostly be deployed to fortify the defences at the tri-junction area in Sikkim that adjoins Bhutan and Tibet and other such vulnerable posts along the two open borders.
The SSB with a present strength of about 90,000 personnel is the lead intelligence agency along 1,751 km open border with Nepal and 699 km boundary with Bhutan.
The 12 new battalions will be raised in phases. Three battalions each will be raised over the next four years.
“The Government has sanctioned to raise new battalions and related establishments for the SSB. The additional manpower will boost border security,” a senior Union Home Ministry official said.
The Centre has also sanctioned 548 posts to the force for deployment at four ICPs (integrated check posts) along the Nepal frontier out of which two are already operational at Jogbani and Raxaul (in Bihar).
The new battalions will be used to reduce inter-border outpost distance, strengthen trade and transit routes along Nepal and Bhutan and fortify the paramilitary’s deployments at the tri-junction area in Sikkim.
The tri-junction area is the plateau between India, Bhutan and Tibet and the SSB is deployed just below it on the southern side, being the designated border force for Bhutan frontier.
In 2017, the Armies of India and China had engaged in an over 70-day standoff in Doklam at this tri-junction.
The additional manpower will also be deployed for upgrading the existing border posts at strategically important locations along the two frontiers besides bolstering the security at the eight ICPSs.
The sanction of new battalions and establishments was granted as a follow up to Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewing the operations of the SSB in October, 2019 and subsequent directions to the paramilitary to conduct a “vulnerability assessment and gap analysis” of the two borders, officials said.
Following this, the SSB came up with a proposal suggesting requirement of 12 new battalions, a frontier headquarter and at least 3 sector headquarters that would be used to enhance logistical and administrative support to its border units as also for deployments for internal security roles in the hinterland.
The Ministry, however, approved creation of only one sector headquarters and 12 battalions in phases, they said, adding the new sector formation will be created in the National Capital Region (NCR).
A battalion comprises over 1,000 personnel.
A sector formation of a paramilitary is responsible for the operation of about 5-6 battalions and is headed by a deputy inspector general (DIG) rank officer. A frontier on the other hand comprises about two to four sectors and is headed by an Inspector General rank officer.
