About SFF- Special Frontier Force Or Vikas Regiment.

They’re very existence is mentioned in the most hushed of tones, if at all. Results for SFF, though more in number, are more or less based on hearsay or regurgitation of what is already known. It isn’t hard to figure why its recruits are citizens of Tibet , operating under an Indian Chain of Command. Their goal, in event of a conflict with Communist China, is to infiltrate back home, to cause debilitating disruption to China’s military capability.

Formation of the SFF

SFF was raises in the immediate aftermath of the 1962, Sino-Indian war. It was a covert outfit which recruited Tibetans ( now a mixture of Tibetans and Gorkhas) and initially went by the name of Establishment 22 after its Inspector General Sujan Singh Uban who had commanded the 22-Mountain Regiment during the World War II (Conboy, 1992). The Establishment 22 made its home base at Chakrata, 100 km from the city of Dehra Dun. 

 

Subsequently, the group was renamed as Special Frontier Force and it now falls under the purview of the Cabinet Secretariat where it is headed by an Inspector General who is an Army officer of the rank of Major General. The units that comprise the SFF are known as Vikas battalions. Former Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh held that office at one point while in his service.

The main goal of SFF was to conduct covert operations behind the Chinese lines in the event of another Indo-China war. 

Operations in which SFF units has taken part;

There are several overt and covert operations in which SFF units have taken part over the years-

• Operations in the 1971 wars

• Operation Blue Star (Golden temple, Amritsar)

• Operation Meghdoot (Siachen Glacier battle 1985-86)

• Operation Vijay (Kargil war 1999)

And in counter-insurgency operations in the country. There are several other operations too in which the SFF has participated but the details are classified.

The role of SFF in 1971 war;

In 1971, the SFF operated in the Chittagong Hill tracts in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to neutralise Pakistan Army positions and help the Indian Army advance ahead. The operation was code-named ‘Operation Eagle’. They were airlifted into operational areas and infiltrated behind enemy lines to destroy lines of communication of Pakistan Army. They also played a vital role in preventing the escape of Pakistan Army personnel from Bangladesh into Burma (now Myanmar). By one estimate more than 3,000 SFF personnel were used in the covert operations in the eastern theatre of the 1971 war. A large number of SFF personnel received awards for their bravery.

Operation Bluestar;

In 1977 the force was given a new mission, to spearhead counter-terrorism operation, as the Tibetans were not directly related to India's communal politics. Soon it received a new name as Indira Gandhi's 'own force'. In 1984, the SFF's elite Special Group became the primary counter-terrorist force in India and was involved in the controversial assault on the Golden Temple during the Operation Bluestar. Although shrouded in secrecy, it is being conjectured that a replica of Golden Temple was created at Chakrata long before the actual attack for the purpose of mock exercise (Jaijee, 2009). According to Indian government sources, SFF was used in the operation to flush out 'militants' encamped in the Temple. On June 6, 1984, the operation began and the SFF commandos were ordered to isolate Akal Takht and secure its western flank. Due to lack of intelligence, SFF suffered heavy casualties and the army had to call tanks to complete the operation (Arpi, 2004).

Operation Meghdoot;

The SFF also took part in the Operation Meghdoot (Siachen Glacier battle 1985-86) and since then one of its units is constantly guarding the Siachen Glacier, which is regarded as one of the world's most inhospitable battle zone. In 1999, SFF jawans were sent to confront Pakistani force during the Operation Vijay (Kargil War) and it is rumoured that the force is involved in the retaking of Tiger Hills, one of the key battle zone during the war. However, the details of SFF's involvements in these operations are not available for public scrutiny at the moment.