Shiv Sena (UBT) questions border security after ITBP chief's China incursion remarks
Synopsis
A single senior officer's reportedly candid disclosure about Chinese troops advancing 6-7 km into Arunachal Pradesh has handed the Uddhav Thackeray camp its sharpest attack line yet: that the government suppresses border truths while hosting Xi Jinping at BRICS. The ITBP chief's video being pulled only deepened the controversy.
Key Takeaways
ITBP DG Shatrujit Singh Kapoor reportedly disclosed that Chinese troops have crossed 6-7 km into Arunachal Pradesh's Asafila area and set up military camps.
Armed clashes between Indian and Chinese forces have allegedly been ongoing for the past four months , according to the Saamana editorial.
The official video of DG Kapoor's speech was reportedly removed from the ITBP website shortly after his remarks gained public attention.
Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged systematic government suppression, citing Rahul Gandhi's earlier warnings, tribal community accounts, and the censorship of Gen Naravane's autobiography.
The editorial contrasted active border clashes with PM Modi hosting Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in New Delhi , calling it an insult to frontline troops.
The government is yet to issue a formal response to the allegations raised in the editorial.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Monday, 26 October 2026, launched a sharp political offensive after Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujit Singh Kapoor reportedly disclosed that Chinese troops had crossed into Arunachal Pradesh, penetrating six to seven kilometres deep into Indian territory in the Asafila area and establishing military camps. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party's mouthpiece, Saamana, published an editorial asserting that the disclosures had 'shattered the government's narrative' on border security.
What the ITBP Chief Reportedly Said
According to the Saamana editorial, ITBP DG Kapoor revealed that armed clashes between Indian and Chinese forces have been ongoing along the Arunachal Pradesh border for the past four months. He also reportedly noted that modern warfare has evolved significantly with the heavy deployment of drones, and that China holds a technologically superior military position. Notably, the official video of his speech was reportedly removed from the ITBP's official website shortly after his remarks sparked widespread public concern.
Saamana's Allegations of Suppression
The editorial alleged that the Modi government has systematically attempted to suppress information about Chinese aggression. It cited the case of Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who had warned approximately a year ago that China was encroaching upon Arunachal Pradesh — claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly dismissed as 'false propaganda'.
The editorial also pointed to local tribal communities and youths in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh who had posted social media content about Chinese intrusions, only to be silenced with their accounts branded as 'enemy propaganda', according to the piece.
Former Army Chief's Book and Galwan References
The Saamana editorial drew attention to the autobiography of former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, titled 'Four Stars of Destiny', which it claimed has faced government censorship due to its account of the 2020 Ladakh-Galwan clashes and the Agnipath scheme. According to the editorial, the book reveals that on the night of 31 August 2020, as Chinese tanks advanced, Gen Naravane sought clear operational directives from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who allegedly responded with 'Do whatever you think is appropriate' after consulting the Prime Minister — a moment the book reportedly describes as a difficult 'Hot Potato' responsibility.
Modi-Xi BRICS Summit Juxtaposition
The editorial drew a pointed contrast between events on the ground and diplomatic optics in the capital. It alleged that while Indian soldiers were engaged in active clashes with Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi was hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping during the BRICS summit in New Delhi. The piece labelled this simultaneity an 'insult to the sacrifices and injuries of frontline Indian troops.'
Accountability Demand and Political Warning
The editorial also referenced environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, who raised concerns about Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and was branded a 'traitor' by the government, according to the piece. It warned that ITBP DG Kapoor may face similar treatment for speaking publicly. Accusing the ruling leadership of using soldiers as political leverage during crises and then abandoning them, the editorial listed the Pulwama attack, the Pahalgam massacre, and the ongoing Arunachal Pradesh incursions as security failures for which PM Modi has, in its view, evaded accountability. The government is yet to formally respond to the editorial's claims.
Point of View
But a sitting ITBP Director General is a harder figure to discredit. The Modi government's silence on the video removal — rather than a rebuttal of the facts — risks amplifying the very concern it presumably sought to manage. If the incursions in Asafila are as described, the BRICS optics juxtaposition is not merely political point-scoring; it raises a genuine question about whether diplomatic momentum with Beijing was being protected at the cost of public transparency on ground realities.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did ITBP Director General Shatrujit Singh Kapoor reportedly disclose?
According to the Saamana editorial, ITBP DG Kapoor revealed that Chinese troops have crossed into Arunachal Pradesh , penetrating 6-7 km into Indian territory in the Asafila area and establishing military camps. He also reportedly stated that armed clashes between Indian and Chinese forces have been ongoing for the past four months.
Why was ITBP DG Kapoor's speech video removed?
The official video of DG Kapoor's speech was reportedly removed from the ITBP website shortly after his remarks sparked widespread public concern, according to the Saamana editorial. The government has not publicly explained the removal.
What is Shiv Sena (UBT)'s main allegation against the Modi government?
Shiv Sena (UBT) alleges in its mouthpiece Saamana that the Modi government has systematically suppressed information about Chinese aggression along the border, silenced whistleblowers, and failed to hold national leadership accountable for security failures including the ongoing incursions in Arunachal Pradesh .
What is the 'Four Stars of Destiny' controversy referenced in the editorial?
The editorial refers to the autobiography of former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane , titled 'Four Stars of Destiny' , which it claims has faced government censorship for its account of the 2020 Galwan clashes and the Agnipath scheme . The book reportedly describes a critical night on 31 August 2020 when Gen Naravane sought clear directives from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as Chinese tanks advanced.
Why did Saamana contrast the Arunachal border clashes with the BRICS summit?
The Saamana editorial alleged that active armed clashes with Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh were occurring simultaneously with PM Modi hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS summit in New Delhi . The editorial called this juxtaposition an insult to frontline Indian soldiers.
