Rest of Arunachal Pradesh matter of concern for Indian security forces as Chinese increase patrolling

By Anish Kumar | First Published Oct 31, 2021, 12:11 PM IST

India has also been cranking up its infrastructural projects, including construction of roads, tunnels and bridges to match their scale.

New Delhi: Amidst the heightened border tensions in eastern Ladakh, the area of the ‘Rest of Arunachal Pradesh’ (RALP) has become a matter of concern for Indian security forces in the wake of increased patrolling and heavy infrastructure build-up by the Chinese on its side.

In military parlance, the RALP is an area in Arunachal Pradesh other than Kameng area.

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“RALP is an area of concern for us. We have raised our deployment in this area. Till 2010 there was only one Division to look after for the entire RALP,” an Indian Army source said.

Now, major deployment of the Dimapur-HQ 3 Corps is responsible for guarding the LAC in the RALP area,” he said.

The officer further said that the Chinese have enhanced their infrastructures in this area and can mobilise their troops smoothly when needed.

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However, he added that India has also been cranking up its infrastructural projects, including construction of roads, tunnels and bridges to match their scale.

An expert believes that the Chinese are now eyeing towards the RALP area after eastern Ladakh.

In order to enhance the road infrastructure, the BRO has been tasked to scale up the work. The detailed project reports for the Trans-Arunachal Highway has been finalised. The 2400-km-long highway will connect 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh right from Tawang to Longding district in the state.

Out of 2400-km, the state PWD would construct 978-km, the NHIDCL 753 kms, while the BRO and the MoRTH will build two other stretches – 324 kms and 341 kms, respectively.

As per reports, the highway is expected to be completed by 2024. Announced in 2008 by the UPA government, the project was delayed due to land compensation issue but now it has gained pace under the Narendra Modi-government.

For smoother mobilisation of men and machines and better connectivity for local populace, the sources said that two tunnels have been planned under Brahmaputra. The detailed project reports for one of them has been completed and other one is at advanced stage.

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In an interaction with a group of journalists from Delhi at Rupa two weeks back, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Manoj Pande said, “We have observed a build-up by China close to LAC essentially in terms of habitat. That has led to a proportionate deployment of troops.”

Since the standoff began in the eastern Ladakh, the Chinese have become more aggressive along the LAC. They have enhanced their patrolling and also their senior commanders keep visiting the LAC frequently.

Indian Army’s Eastern Command looks after the 1,346-km-long LAC that two countries share.

Under this command, there are three corps, 33 Corps (Sikkim), 4 Corps (Kameng Sector) and 3 Corps (Rest of Arunachal Pradesh) which handle the LAC.

In Tawang sector, Indian Army has adopted an offensive posturing by deploying its high-end guns, technologically updated surveillance system, air defence system among others. It has deployed M-777 ULHs, Bofors guns, L-90 air defence system, Pinaka rocket system, Smerch Multi barrel system, BrahMos among others.

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