SSB boosts vigil along Nepal, Bhutan borders

New Delhi: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border, has operationalised a total of 72 posts during this year to strengthen its defences to guard the two open Indian borders, a top official said during an event for the 55th raising day of the force on Tuesday.

The paramilitary force, as part of the boosting of security infrastructure and enhancing manpower along the borders, has created 18 such posts in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. A few of its locations are just next to the Doklam plateau, where the Indian and Chinese forces had a 73 day-long military standoff there in the summer of 2016.

Asked if the new border outposts (BoPs) were being created in the aftermath of the Doklam incident, SSB director-general (DG) S.S. Deswal said securing the India-China border was not its mandate and the new posts were established to guard the two open Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan on the eastern flank of the country.

Wherever Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan run, the SSB is creating infrastructure and is deploying manpower, Mr Deswal said while interacting with reporters on the occasion of the 55th raising day of the force.

The force chief said conditions in the border posts are “improving at a very fast pace” when he was asked about the comments of a recent parliamentary panel report that said the border posts of forces like SSB lacked basic amenities such as clean drinking water and proper electricity.

The DG stressed that construction of roads to connect the border posts is the “top priority” of all the government organisations involved in this task.

The DG was also asked the reason as to why a number of officers and jawans were leaving the paramilitary forces or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) over the last few years. He said that the personnel leave in order to avail better job opportunities and avenues.