After Galwan Clashes, ITBP Introduces 20 New Combat Moves Minus Arms

Chandigarh | Updated: 28 September, 2022 3:48 pm IST

The face-off with Chinese troops at the Galwan Valley along the India-China border in 2020 has prompted the border-guarding force ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police) to introduce at least 20 new martial art moves for its commandos to combat the enemy without the use of arms.

During skirmishes in Galwan, the Chinese troops used wooden rods with barbed wire wrapped on it to attack Indian soldiers, who were unarmed and faced a tough time. At least 20 soldiers were martyred in the clashes.

According to the bilateral agreements signed between India and China in 1996, neither side can use firearms against the other along the Actual Line of Control (LAC).

ITBP keeps a watch and guards the stretch of LAC along the India-China border. Its personnel are deployed at over 3,000 kilometers stretch at the LAC.

“At least 20 different techniques have been inducted into the hand-to-hand technique fight. The Chinese soldiers had crafted hand-made barbed wire for attacking our soldiers. We wanted to train our men in such a manner that they can get the better of their enemy without using any weapon,” Head Constable Rohit Sipahiya, who is a black belt Martial Art instructor at ITBP’s BTC training centre in Panchkula, told The New Indian.

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Sipahiya further said the soldiers get three months of training on these techniques where they become experts in combating their enemies without the use of arms.

“Our men are getting trained to combat with the use of their body weapons. It is a part of unarmed combat training which we already give to our jawans,” he added.

Another officer said the practice of unarmed combat training was first started in ITBP’s Mussoorie months after the 2020 violent clashes initiated by China. Now, it has been made mandatory to learn moves in the force.

Inspector General (ITBP) IS Duhan told The New Indian: “These 20 moves are taken from Judo Karate, Krav Maga and other martial arts techniques. This was made mandatory by former DGP Sanjay Arora for everyone in the force. Our commandos will showcase these moves in the force’s upcoming raising day parade as well.”

He said these new moves will definitely be helpful for ITBP jawans who are deployed at the first line of defence and also carry out patrolling.

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