Intruder caught after shock from border fencing

JAIPUR: We decided to strengthen our systems through the new technology. Almost half of our area is now covered by the early warning system

ANIL PALIWAL , inspector general of police

About a year after the Border Security Force (BSF) introduced an early warning system, which includes running electric current through the fence along the international border in Rajasthan, an intruder got electric shock and was caught near the Hindumalkot outpost in Sriganganagar district, said a BSF official.

The system of aggregated early warning system, infra-red alarm and electric current in fence wires has been in place in Jammu and Punjab frontiers of the BSF.

In Rajasthan Frontier, that covers more than 800 km of international border in Rajasthan, the system was introduced around a year ago after inspector general of police Anil Paliwal took over the reins.

Paliwal, who has earlier served in the Punjab Frontier, said he wanted to introduce technology in this part to check any infiltration bid and to keep the borders safe.

“We decided to strengthen our systems through the new technology. Almost half of our area is now covered by the early warning system,” he said.

To prevent intrusion, electric current runs through the fence wires at night.

The current is switched off during the daytime.

The electric current in the wires, called cobra wire in BSF parlance, is meant to neutralise intruders so that they can be apprehended before they disappear into darkness or cross over to the other side.

The apprehension of a man, suspected to be Pakistani, around midnight on Thursday, near an outpost under 125 Battalion of the border force is the first result of this intervention, Paliwal said.

BSF recovered Pakistani currency worth 209 from the man. A joint interrogation will take place to ascertain the motive of intrusion, said an officer of the Hindumalkot police station.