Since Doklam, Sashastra Seema Bal built 18 new outposts

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders, has built 18 new border outposts in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh since India and China resolved their Doklam stand-off. Of the 18 set up in the last one year, 15 are in Arunachal while three are in Sikkim.

Surjeet Singh Deswal, director general of the SSB, said that at present, 53 battalions are deployed on the borders with Nepal and Bhutan. "The SSB has established and operationalised 708 border out-posts which are instrumental in fulfilling its mandate of safeguarding the security of India's borders, to promote a sense of security among people living in border areas, and to prevent trans-border crimes," Deswal said.

In addition to this, five SSB battalions are also deployed in Jammu and Kashmir for counter-terrorism duties, while seven have been deployed in Naxal-affected areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and two in Assam for counter-insurgency operations and counter-insurgency operations. Two SSB battalions are also deployed with the NDRF on deputation for undertaking rescue and relief operations during national calamities and disasters.

"In addition to the above posts, the home ministry also sanctioned the creation of 419 posts for RTC Supaul, thus extending SSB's footprint to new areas. In 2018, the government conferred the status of 'Group-A Central Services' to SSB," he said.

What Was Doklam

The armies of India and China were involved in a two-month-long stand-off at the tri-border junction in the summer of 2017. Though both sides stepped back, the situation remains volatile.