61st Raising Day Function Of Sashastra Seema Bal:
The Union Home Minister attended the 61st Raising Day function of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Siliguri in West Bengal.
- He lauded the role of SSB in protecting the Siliguri Corridor, gateway to Northeast and Sikkim and surrounded by three International borders.
- Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is a part of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and guards India’s border with Nepal (1,751 km) and Bhutan (699 km).
- It is one of the seven paramilitary forces in India (Others 6: Assam Rifles, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo Tibetan Border Police and National Security Guard.
- It was established as the Special Service Bureau in May 1963, in the aftermath of the Chinese aggression in 1962.
- It comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- SSB is the first central paramilitary force that included women in its ranks.
- In March 2004, SSB was awarded the President’s Colours for its key role in national security.
- The President’s Colours is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon any military unit.
