DHNS

Belgaum, Apr 17: The first ever para-military base in Karnataka will come up at Halabhavi in Belgaum district in a few months. 

The Karnataka government has provided 250 acres of Government land free of cost to Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the purpose. ITBP Additional Director General of Police Anirudh Uppal performed the bhoomi puja and laid the foundation-stone for the construction for ITBP Battalion Headquarter and Training Center at Halabhavi, about 20 km from Belgaum, on Friday.

Talking to the media on the occasion, Uppal said the functioning of the battallion and the training center will begin in another six months in temporary structures. The Central Public Works Department will undertake construction of permanent structures at a cost of Rs 48 crore.

He said around 1,200 ITBP personnel will be stationed at the proposed center and the training programmes include - professional training in anti-insurgency and commando techniques.

The para-military force is meant for duty on the Indo-China border and after a certain period, the personnel on border duty will be deputed to the proposed headquarters and the training center for relaxing and refreshing the training they underwent earlier, he said adding that a permanent battallion will also be stationed here.

Replying to a question, he said the proposed center will encourage the youth from Karnataka to even join ITBP. There will also be recruitment drive at the center. Chief of the proposed center Inspector General of Police Pramod Asthana, Inspector General of Police, Northern Range N Shivkumar, Additional Superintendent of Police Umesh Pangam and senior officials of ITBP were present on the occasion.