The first theatre command should be formed in North East
By
Colonel Awadhesh Kumar
Shri Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal recently posted pictures of one of the hydel projects at Mago village in Tawang district, his home constituency, Mukto. In response the PM Modi tweeted, “A welcome development in the border areas, which will empower those living in the border villages.”
The significance of above tweet is that it was sent by the PM just hours after China announced its childish action of renaming certain places in Arunachal Pradesh which is inalienable part of India.
Communist China has started claiming Arunachal a State of India as being part of Chinese Occupied Tibet. During the 1962 Skirmishes PLA had reached right up to Bhalukpong in the Twang – Bomdila – Rupa – Bhalukpong Sector and similarly had moved down Dinjan Sector on Taksing – -Limeking axis, Mechuka/Manigong-Tato axis, Gelling-Tuting axis and Kibithoo-Walong axis.
The Chinese forces while penetrating deep into Arunachal using Bypass tactics with opposition from just about four ill equipped infantry brigades. Still many a fierce battles were fought by a few units and small groups of soldiers. India had lost 1,383 soldiers as killed, 1,047 were wounded another 1,700 went missing and 3,968 were made prisoners by the PLA. The Chinese had lost 1,300 soldiers as killed.
By the end of the War, Chinese forces had penetrated about 100 kms inside Rupa Sector reaching Bhalukpong on the Assam border. In Dinjan Sector along the Taksing-Limeking axis, Chinese forces entered 60 kms inside crossing Limeking in Upper Subansiri district. On the Mechuka/Manigong-Tato axis they reached Tato in Shi-Yomi district about 50 km deep. PLA also reached Tuting along the Gelling-Tuting axis and occupied Walong in Anjaw district.
However soon Beijing declared an unilateral Ceasefire and the PLA withdrew back to MacMohan Line. This withdrawal didn’t match with their tall claim. So why did they withdraw ? The main reason was that winter was rapidly threatening the PLA’s extended and tenuous supply line.
Soon maintaining troops from China across occupied Tibet which had little road infrastructure and then far south of the McMahon Line would have soon become a nightmare. At the extended frontline established by Chinese troops on 20 November 1962, Indian divisions moving in from the plains were mobilizing.
Heavy artillery in conjunction with IAF (by now the debate to use it or not would have been over) would have started interdiction the PLA Occupation Force quite badly. With winter approaching Chinese forces would have been, for the first time, in a precarious and disadvantaged position. A Spring offensive with a larger force with heavy artillery and tanks along with the IAF under the leadership of Sam Manekshaw would then have surely routed the PLA.
Therefore India should learn from the debacle in the 1962 Sino-India war and be fully prepared strategically. The only way to counter the Chinese threat is by expediting infrastructure development like key roads, railways, bridges, airfields, etc, in entire North East in general and Arunachal in particular.
In fact, one of Arunachal Pradesh’s ongoing endeavours to set up 50 standalone mini and micro hydel power projects in the villages bordering China to provide uninterrupted power supply to villages and the Army guarding the border. The Golden Jubilee Border Illumination Program is in sync with the vision of Hon PM that border villages aren’t the last but first to be transformed.
Apart from creating military infrastructure,as part of the government’s priority plan to boost development in the Northeast, INR 15000 Crores have been spent on road construction in these areas during 2017-22, with 2,319 km of roads being constructed in Arunachal Pradesh alone. Boost is also being given to the tourism sector in Arunachal Pradesh with the addition of Donyi Polo airport in Itanagar.
Today we have over 18 Infantry brigades ready to take on the Chinese if they dare to cross once again into Arunachal from any area of Occupied Tibet. The infantry this time will not only be supported by a well coordinated artillery fire but also with tanks, attack helicopters, BRAHMOS and other cruise missiles and Tejas, Rafales and Sukhoi jets of the IAF.
Now the next big move by the Cabinet Committee Security should be the establishment of the HQ Eastern Theatre at Purulia under a four Star Air Chief Marshal. This Theatre, to be responsible for defence of the States of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura,Manipur, Mizoram and Meghalaya. In addition Coastal districts of Orissa namely Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Korda and Ganjam.
The following components to be placed under this Theatre :
* HQ North Eastern Army (to be raised at Guahati) comprising 3 Corps, 4 Corps, 101 Area (with HQ Assam Rifles North, HQ Assam Rifles South and HQ Assam Rifles East) and one infantry Division.
* HQ Eastern Army (Kolkata) comprising 33 Corps 17 Corps, Bengal Area (with Force HQ Rashtriya Rifles) and one infantry Division.
* HQ Eastern Air Command
* HQ Bengal Orissa Naval Area (independent from HQ Eastern Naval Command)
* Theatre SF and Airborne assets
* HQ Coast Guard Region Kolkata
* HQ Special DG BSF Kolkata
* HQ NE frontier ITBP
Once the Eastern Theatre is raised then China instead of playing naming games over Arunachal will start concentrating its energy on retaining control of Occupied Tibet.
