BSF ups deployment along border
Foggy season a big challenge as capability of gadgets decreases, says BSF DIG
AMRITSAR:With the onset of foggy season, the Border Security Force (BSF) has deployed more personnel on the 550km border with Pakistan in Punjab.
Though Pakistani smugglers use the International Border in Punjab to push in narcotics and weapons, the recent grenade attack on November 18, which claimed lives of three people and injured 20, has put the state police and the BSF on high alert. The BSF has not only increased number of jawans deployed on the International Border but also their duty hours.
“Foggy season is a big challenge for the BSF, particularly from December to February mid. During this period, capability of the gadgets and other technological equipment, installed on the border to keep vigil for any kind of smuggling and infiltration from across the border, gets decreased drastically. Thus, we have to rely on our manpower only. As the season has begun, now we have started increasing our personnel deployment besides increasing their duty hours to keep eagle eye on anti-national elements,” says Amritsar sector BSF deputy inspector general (DIG) JS Oberoi.
The DIG said,“Patrolling near the border has also been intensified. Besides, special nakas have been installed on all routes leading to the border to make regular checks.”
Normally, BSF uses equipments like closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, LED and flood lights, thermal imaging cameras, hand-held thermal imagers, radars, sensors, laser lights etc., to keep vigil on intruders and bids of smuggling of drugs and weapons, a BSF official said on the condition of anonymity. Senior officials have also been visiting areas near the fencing to monitor the deployment of jawans, a company commander said.
“Special co-ordination teams with the local police have already been working roundthe-clock to check any kind of anti-national activities near the border,” he said.
Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepur sectors also share some stretches of Sutlej and Ravi river borderd with Pakistan. Due to the rivers, intensity of fog increases near the riverine border. In 2016, a heavily armed group of terrorists attacked Pathankot Air Force Station. Though there has been no official confirmation that from which area the terrorists had sneaked into India, many officials believed that the attackers might have entered India from the banks of Sutlej river.
Oberoi, however, said, “Despite fog, we are guarding
riverine border without any obstacle as ‘laser walls’ are keeping strict vigil there. ‘Laser wall’, which works effectively even in dense fog, sounds alert when any intruder tries to sneak into the Indian territory. Our troops are also regularly patrolling along the river border on special boats to thwart any kind of infiltration or smuggling of drugs.”
He further said, “Two pilot projects of smart fencing under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu has started. After the success of these projects, the border in Punjab will also be sealed with smart fencing.”
› Special nakas have been set up on all routes leading to the border to keep checks. JS OBEROI, BSF deputy inspector general, Amritsar sector