Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur has publicly confirmed ongoing Chinese incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Speaking at an investiture ceremony ahead of the force’s 65th Raising Day, Kapur identified China as India's "biggest adversary" and outlined significant operational enhancements.
The DG revealed that these standoff situations, involving Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces, have been active since July. Specifically, PLA troops have been observed pitching tents approximately 6-7 kilometers inside India’s perceived LAC near the sensitive Asaphila sector. This military friction persisted even through the mid-September BRICS Summit in New Delhi, attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and coincided with anniversaries of key 1962 Sino-Indian War battles in the same rugged terrain.
ITBP's Enhanced Response
In response to these developments, the ITBP is aggressively bolstering its defensive capabilities. Specialised Shaurya Commando platoons have been deployed to actively counter intrusions and maintain a firm posture. Kapur stated that comprehensive strike training for the entire force would be completed by late 2027, with essential equipment being supplied to all forward border outposts to effectively handle situations akin to the Galwan Valley clash.
Furthermore, the force has initiated high-intensity combat training and is constructing reinforced underground shelters and bunkers. These structures are designed to protect troops against potential heavy artillery, aerial bombardment, and the region’s harsh climatic conditions, ensuring resilience against modern warfare contingencies.
Political Reaction and Concerns
The operational disclosures by the ITBP chief have triggered immediate political debate. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the Modi administration's handling of border security and trade relations with China.
In a post on X, Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining a "deafening silence" on active developments along the LAC. He highlighted concerns over alleged losses of traditional patrolling points, Beijing's unilateral renaming of locations within Arunachal Pradesh, and China's planned construction of a massive 60,000-megawatt dam along the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra River, which threatens India's ecological and water security.
Ramesh also pointed to India’s escalating trade deficit with China, which reached a record $112 billion in 2025–26, up from $99 billion the previous year, arguing that it significantly threatens India's economic security and impacts MSMEs. He linked these issues to what he termed the Prime Minister’s "infamous clean chit to China" in June 2020.
As ITBP and Indian Army troops remain deployed across key flashpoints in high-altitude border areas, the confirmation of ongoing Chinese incursions underscores the persistent frontier tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.