India to enhance Lorros at China, Pakistan borders

Frequent incidents of security breach along the borders with China and Pakistan have prompted India to further enhance the Long Range Reconnaissance and Observation System (Lorros).A panel of experts recently cleared a revised technical requirement to be implemented by border guarding forces like the Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), ET has learnt.The sensor system that provides long-range surveillance both day and night should be able to recognise human targets more than 20 kilometres away, besides moving and stationary vehicles at a minimum distance of 40 km and 15 km, respectively, state the draft guidelines cleared by the panel. As per the existing specifications, the distance was 15 km for human targets and 24 km for vehicles.Procurement of the system with enhanced capabilities is part of an extensive revamp of the surveillance equipment and gadgets for the border security forces amid frequent transgression along the India-China border and heightened infiltration attempts from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.After the February military coup in Myanmar, 8,486 Myanmar nationals had crossed over to India, the government had told the Rajya Sabha. Of them, 5,796 were pushed back and the rest were in India as of end July."The compact surveillance system should be portable which can detect and recognise human and vehicle targets during day and night with simultaneous recording facility," according to the directions issued by the expert panel.After the stand-off last year along the Indo-China border, regular transgression by Chinese forces has been a serious cause of concern for India's security forces. Recently, more than 100 Chinese soldiers and 55 military horses entered a demilitarised zone at Barahoti in Uttarakhand and damaged infrastructure near a grazing ground. The incident rang alarm bells in Delhi and highlighted the immediate need to ramp up surveillance and beef up security along the border."Such transgression along the LAC is regularly taken up with the Chinese side through established mechanisms including border meetings, flag meetings and the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs," said a senior government official. The ITBP and the Indian Army are responsible for guarding the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control with China, from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.At present, 180 ITBP border outposts are operational along the LAC with each having about 100 soldiers. The ITBP is seeking to upgrade the Lorros and UAV systems to improve patrolling along the border with China.

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