T-72 tanks moved to remote Sikkim area after China tests Indian defences

[sandeep.barve]

India moves tank regiment to North Sikkim.BRO man gets Shourya Chakra.

T-72 tanks moved to remote Sikkim area after China tests Indian defences

Chinese moves to test Indian control of the strategic Finger Area in North Sikkim last year have prompted the Army to deploy heavy tanks and armoured personnel carriers in the region and strengthen defensive positions.
In fact, the highest gallantry award to a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel was conferred to a dozer operator, Zalim Singh, who cleared a strategic road near Theing village — he was decorated with a Bar to Shaurya Chakra — for a column of advancing tanks.

While the Army brought armoured vehicles to the North Sikkim plateau in the late 1980s, the small detachment has now been replaced by the heavier and more powerful T-72 Main Battle Tanks and modern BMP troop carriers.
Sources said the mobilisation took place after repeated Chinese transgressions last year in the Finger Area, a one kilometre stretch of land in the northern tip of Sikkim that overlooks a valley called the Sora Funnel and is considered a strong defensive position.
The T-72 tanks were inducted after a monumental effort by the BRO to widen roads, construct tracks and strengthen bridges leading to North Sikkim. The heavy tank column was taken up the high plateau partly by road-based carriers.

Sources said that while China too has tanks on its side of the border, they are deployed well inside its territory. “China does not need to deploy tanks on the border because the terrain and roads on its side makes it easy to bring them at short notice. India, on the other hand, has no option but to keep them on the border as it would take days to get the tanks up from the plains,” an expert pointed out.

[abhijithora]

oh!!! Thanks for updating "India is now taking China as a Serious issue" Great.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

India needs to start pushing tourists in these areas, that is the only way roads will improve, locals will become dependent on tourism and thus unsympathetic to Chinese and world would formally know that these areas are ours! Else who knows, like K2 and various other parts, we might loose it as well!

[abhijithora]

But internal security is also a issue..

[Yogesh Sarkar]

That will improve as more and more people have employment and an incentive to stay in India. For instance, in Kashmir most of the attacks aren't targeted at tourists, even though they are the most easy group to target, it is mainly due to the fact that it hurts the local economy and locals don't let it happen.

[abhijithora]

Yes totally agree with you. Now our defence problems are from Pakistan side, bangladesh side, China side & Sri lanka side where china has deployed its military base (is this right?)

[popsha]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

India needs to start pushing tourists in these areas, that is the only way roads will improve, locals will become dependent on tourism and thus unsympathetic to Chinese and world would formally know that these areas are ours! Else who knows, like K2 and various other parts, we might loose it as well!

Thats what China has been doing with Tibet and Pakistan with Gilgit and now we need to do it more especially in Arunachal where the situation at the border has been deteriorating

[hiambuj]

But here we find a different situation !! Even Indian nationals need permits for these areas !!

[Yogesh Sarkar]

So what? Permit if issued like the one in Ladakh, isn't a major headache!

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

India needs to start pushing tourists in these areas, that is the only way roads will improve, locals will become dependent on tourism and thus unsympathetic to Chinese and world would formally know that these areas are ours! Else who knows, like K2 and various other parts, we might loose it as well!

I agree with this approach.
There is no way India can match China in military might!