NewsGate Press Network

By Vineet Dikshit

All the gallants of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) who fought hardy battles defeating the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at the infamous Galwan Valley incident in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020 and at the clash points along the Pangong Lake have been awarded the prestigious Police Medals for Gallantry  – otherwise popularly known as the PMG medal.

In one go, as many as 23 ITBP personnel gets PMG –  20 of them only for defeating PLA in Eastern Ladakh during May-June 2020.

Seven among these 20 are commandant rank officers trained in one of the best forms of mountain warfare scenarios.

For border guarding duties along the tricky Line of Actual Control (LAC) at the China-Tibet border, this is an unprecedented number PMG medals announced for ITBP on the eve of any Independence Day.

According to a media release issued earlier in the day by the ITBP; eight (08) personnel have been awarded the PMG for gallant act, meticulous planning and tactical insightfulness while decisively thwarting intrusion by the Chinese PLA at the Galwan Nallah clash on 15 June, 2020.

Six (06) ITBP combats are given a PMG medal for bravery during violent face off at the Finger IV area of Pangong Lake (north face).

That skirmish took place on 18 May last year when ITBP soldiers along with detachments from the Indian Army had successfully stonewalled transgressing PLA intruding into the Indian territory.

Same day, on 18 May, 2020 another skirmish had taken place in Eastern Ladakh. This time in and around the Hot Spring.

Six (06) ITBP officers and soldiers are awarded with police medal for their gallant action near the Hot Springs.  They had successfully prevented transgression of PLA troops further into the Indian territory.

Apart from their deployment along the LAC, the ITBP is also involved in Anti Naxal Operations (ANO) in Chhattisgarh.

This year, three (03) of its personnel are given PMG Medals for their ANO activities in Abujmand forest areas in Chhattisgath.

Thick foliage in the Abujmand forest is notoriously famous for hide-outs of the outlawed wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI-Maoists) who do not recognize the Constitution of India and regularly target government assets.