NEW DELHI, Oct 24 ? Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today sought to downplay the recent movement of troops to the North East, which recently saw a spurt in militant violence, saying that only the battalions shifted out during the Kargil war in 1999 were being restored, reports PTI.
?During the Kargil War, we had brought in many battalions from the North East. Now, we are simply restoring them,? Patil told reporters on the sidelines of the 43rd raising day of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) here. He was replying to questions about redeployment of ITBP troops from Jammu and Kashmir to the North East, to fill the vacuum left by movement of Army personnel to the war zone from Jammu and Kashmir.
About Manipur, Patil said ?The situation is peaceful there?. Asked about ITBP personnel getting trained in rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of nuclear, chemical and biological warfare, Patil said, ?In case of a man-made disaster, training has to be provided. Latest technology including Information Technology will be used for this.?
He, however, asked the ITBP to remain prepared to face new challenges including nuclear disasters. The Home Minister emphasised on a holistic approach towards the security of the country rather than a fragmented one and said paramiltary forces would be modernised wherein they would be provided with modern weaponry.
?Latest weaponry will be procured...We are talking of the modernisation of all the paramilitary forces. New weapons, communication devices, transport systems, sustainance system come within its ambit,? he said. ?This work of modernisation is a never-ending process and can never be finished in one go...After modernising it once, we can?t sleep on it for one or two years. We have to keep thinking about,? Patil said.
On the new communication system, he said till now only either company-to-company or group-to-group communication was possible but ?it will be good if individual-to-individual communicaton was possible.?
About the modernisation of transport system of the force including procurement of an aircraft, Patil said ?Gradually, they will be modernised in all respects and this is very important.? Earlier, praising ITBP for its services rendered over the years, Patil said the government will try its best to solve the difficulties the force was facing.
?We will try our best to provide ITBP personnel with latest weaponry, surveillance and communication equipment,? Patil said. After inspecting a parade by various ITBP contingents, he awarded 15 ITBP personnel with medals, including the President's Police Medal for Gallantry, in an investiture ceremony.