Face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops are continuing at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor has said, in an official acknowledgement that confrontations along the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have not ended. "In the past few days, a situation arose where face-offs happened at several locations in Arunachal, and it still continues," Kapoor said.
Source: Power Corridors (reporting The Hindu / India Today accounts)
Kapoor was speaking to ITBP personnel in Alwar, Rajasthan, on Thursday, ahead of the force's 65th Raising Day. He praised the newly raised Shaurya Commando teams for their role in handling confrontations with Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops, The Hindu reported in its morning coverage of the remarks.
Source: The Hindu via ScoopFeeds morning digest
Drones, 'Strike' training and underground shelters
Describing China as India's most challenging border adversary, Kapoor outlined a build-up under way along the mountain frontier: the ITBP is raising drone platoons in its border units, has introduced a 'Strike' training course to prepare personnel for intense combat situations including scenarios comparable to the 2020 Galwan clash, and is expanding underground shelters and infrastructure at forward posts. He also spoke of strengthening the Shaurya Commando component towards a full company in every battalion, and of a specialised battalion for high-altitude operations.
Recent reporting has focused on the Taksing area of Upper Subansiri district, where tensions were reported to have persisted since at least late July, and a corps commander-level meeting was held at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point on September 6. The precise locations, causes and extent of the latest face-offs have not been detailed in Kapoor's publicly reported remarks, and his statement does not by itself establish any change in territorial control.
Opposition questions, and the wider dispute
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, in an opposition allegation, questioned what he called the Prime Minister's silence on the Arunachal face-offs and claimed Indian patrolling had been restricted in some areas — claims the government has not addressed in the reporting so far. India and China share an approximately 3,488-kilometre disputed boundary; China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of what it calls Zangnan, a position India firmly rejects, maintaining the state is an integral part of the country. The 2020 Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, remains the defining episode in the deterioration of ties.
What is solid
- ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Singh Kapoor said face-offs with Chinese troops have occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh in the past few days and are continuing.
- Kapoor said the ITBP is raising drone platoons, running a new 'Strike' combat course and expanding the Shaurya Commando component and underground infrastructure.
What is only claimed
- Opposition allegations that Indian patrolling points have been lost or restricted in Arunachal Pradesh — raised by Congress leaders; not established by Kapoor's remarks or independently verified in the reporting.
