ITBP chief confirms China face-offs in Arunachal ahead of retirement

ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur confirmed that face-offs with Chinese troops continue at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh border, and called China India’s “biggest adversary.” He was addressing troops at an investiture ceremony ahead of the force’s 65th Raising Day on October 24.

Kapur, an IPS officer of the 1990 batch from the Haryana cadre, outlined major operational upgrades aimed at countering China, including high-altitude combat capabilities and drone systems for the ITBP. The comments come days before his retirement on October 31.

China face-offs continue in Arunachal, says ITBP chief

The ITBP chief’s warning follows months of rising tension along the Line of Actual Control, where China has been reinforcing its presence in Arunachal Pradesh, as India Today reported. The Indian Express asked readers to rewind to what Kapur had said and read it as a warning.

Kapur stressed the need to strengthen the border force’s capabilities even as the face-offs continue at multiple locations. His confirmation is among the most direct admissions of ongoing friction at the frontier.

The investiture ceremony itself was a statement of intent. Ahead of the 65th Raising Day, Kapur detailed how the force plans to counter China, with a heavy emphasis on high-altitude combat readiness and drone-based surveillance in terrain where traditional patrolling is difficult.

Kapur retires October 31, SSB’s Singhal takes charge

Kapur will retire on October 31. The Ministry of Home Affairs has assigned Sanjay Singhal, director general of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), to take additional charge as interim ITBP chief, The Hindu reported. Singhal will hold the post until a permanent successor is appointed.

Before stepping down, Kapur drew political fire. The Times of India reported that former Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala raised strong objections to Kapur’s recent remarks regarding the border and sought action against him.

Veterans seek posts every 10 km, more drones

An ex-paramilitary association has demanded that ITBP border posts be placed at intervals of 10 km, alongside advanced drone systems and higher funding, the Telegraph India reported. The association also objected to the ITBP being deployed in Delhi for crowd control or student demonstrations, arguing that the force’s primary duty lies at the frontier.

The objection to city deployments echoes a long-running complaint within the paramilitary: that the ITBP is too often pulled away from its core mission on the border. With vacancies and infrastructure gaps already pressing, the veterans argue the force cannot afford to be stretched thin.

Drone warfare and the Shaurya commandos

Within the ITBP, a specialised combat unit called the Shaurya Commandos has been raised to improve the force’s ability to respond quickly to security challenges along the China border. ‘Shaurya’ means valour, and the unit is designed for rapid response in high-altitude terrain.

The push for drones and faster response units reflects a changing border threat. As the ITBP strengthens its high-altitude combat capability, it is pairing traditional infantry tactics with newer technology platforms.

Centre weighs wider CAPF reshuffle

Beyond the ITBP, the Centre is weighing a bigger leadership shuffle across India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), The New Indian Express reported. The latest developments suggest top posts may change hands in more than one force as the government rotates senior officers.

Closer to home, Chhattisgarh Police and the ITBP jointly neutralised a 5 kg pressure cooker-based improvised explosive device in a forest area, underlining coordination between local and central forces in tackling security challenges outside the border.

With Kapur’s retirement set for October 31 and Singhal stepping in as interim chief, the open question is who gets the permanent charge of the ITBP — and whether the veterans’ demand for more men and infrastructure finds a response from New Delhi.