ITBP transfers ‘errant’ jawan away from border detail

GANGTOK, 28 Oct: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police has transferred its allegedly ‘errant’ jawan posted at the Nathula border in order to ensure smooth border trade and maintain normal relations with Chinese officials on the other side of the border. Roshan Singh, the ITBP jawan from Haryana was removed from his post at Nathula following his overbearing attitude while on duty which saw him rough up a trader from Tibet Autonomous Region some time back, an action which nearly derailed the seven year old border trade. Sources also inform that there has also been pressure from Chinese authorities who were reportedly adamant that the Indian authorities take “tangible and effective” steps to show their commitment to sustaining amiable relations and also to acknowledge their fault.
On 16 October, a Chinese trader was roughed up by Roshan Singh at the border. As the Chinese were lining up in their vehicles there was a hold up as the trader was in conversation with an Indian trader who was getting ready to cross over into Tibet. Both were in the vehicles.
The delay irritated the ITBP personnel who then caught the Chinese trader by the scruff of his neck, dragged him out of his vehicle and allegedly began beating him up. Even officials from other agencies at the border, both from India and China, were reportedly speechless and could only look on stunned. Soon, traders from both sides gathered and threatened to stop trade altogether should the ITBP continue behaving in this way.
Soon after the incident there was an adamant and stubborn standoff between the ITBP on one side and Indian and Chinese traders on the other side; the traders threatened to completely shut down trade indefinitely and it was only a written apology forwarded by the ITBP which soothed emotions. While normal trade resumed the next day the Chinese trade officer was not satisfied and, as informed, gave the Indian authorities till 22 October (last Monday) for decisive action on the basis of which the Chinese were to take a final decision on whether to continue trade or not or take some other measure.
In what is being seen as some as a pressure tactic, a Chinese chopper is also informed to have violated Indian airspace over Nathula recently.
It may also be mentioned here that this was not the first complaint against the particular ITBP jawan. Sources inform that earlier too he was found to be uncouth in his interactions with the traders. The Chinese were already irked as it is with the arrest of one of their traders by the ITBP on charges of spying at around the same time.
The ITBP apparently decided to take some modicum of disciplinary action and stand down and removed Roshan Singh from his post. He has been transferred and following this it is informed that trade is expected to continue normally till the end of November.