The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) plans to build 54 more border outposts along Arunachal Pradesh's dangerous 1,030 kilometer-long border with China in the latest move confirming Delhi's concern about China's military build-up in the region.

ITBP Inspector General Manoj Singh Rawat said the new border posts will be located along the "McMahon Line," the imaginary border also known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) dividing India and China, to improve security in the state.

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The Line was agreed to by the United Kingdom and Tibet as part of the Simla Accord signed in 1914. It's the effective boundary between China and India but its legal status is disputed by China. China claims ownership of Arunachal Pradesh and says it's part of South Tibet.

Gen. Rawat, who is in charge of the North East Frontier Headquarters, also proposed to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu a permanent stationing of one ITBP battalion at the town of Hollongi near Itanagar, the state capital, to reinforce the Indian Army.

He said ITBP plans to open new outposts across Arunachal Pradesh in towns like Likabali, Pasighat and Aalo. He also said the ITBP will be deployed to guard all vital government installations, offices and institutions in the state.

But more important, the Inspector General proposed basing ITBP's headquarters in Itanagar instead of at faraway Shillong, capital of Meghalaya and Tezpur in Assam for efficiency in command and control.

Chief Minister Khandu agreed to extend all possible cooperation to the ITBP as it expands its security role in his state. He thanked the ITBP for maintaining peace and security in the state, and also lauded its humanitarian assistance extended during natural calamities.

ITBP is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of India established in 1962 in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The ITBP is deployed along India's border with China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Last week, India deployed an Indian Army BrahMos regiment operating the latest Block III version of this potent supersonic cruise missile to defend the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian media reported a huge build-up of Chinese military forces all along the 4,057 kilometer LAC. Arunachal Pradesh is the most northerly state along the LAC and one of the most threatened by China.

To be deployed to Arunachal Pradesh will be the 864 Regiment of the Indian Army's 41st Artillery Division. The regiment will operate from four and six BrahMos batteries and three to four Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MALs). The regiment will command up to 100 BrahMos Block III cruise missiles, each armed with a 290 kg warhead.

TagsIndo-Tibetan Border Police, Arunachal Pradesh, India, china, Inspector General Manoj Singh Rawat, Chief Minister Pema Khandu