BSF giving befitting reply to Pak firing, says Rajnath

Prateek Chauhan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 22

The Border Security Force (BSF) is not only the first line of defence but also the ‘first wall of defence’ on the borders, and our troops have ensured that the Indian frontiers are safe under them.

This was stated by Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the Border Security Forces’ 16th investiture ceremony today. “It is an irony that despite India wanting peace with its neighbours, a particular country is not mending its ways. This (Pakistan's acts) can be a subject of research and these activities of the neighbour are hard to understand,” he said.

Sending out a strong message to Pakistan over the unprovoked firing incidents along the border, he said while the government had directed the forces on the border to never fire the first bullet, “no one will ask them how they chose to retaliate”.

“If BSF men are fired upon, then you have to decide what is the best course of action,” the minister said.

He reiterated that the force had been giving a “befitting reply” to unprovoked firing incidents in the Jammu region for the past few days.

He said the government had started providing the operational casualty certificate to the families of those Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel killed in the line of duty. The defence forces also give the families of their killed troopers such a certificate, he said. A total of 46 BSF bravehearts were decorated with medals. As many as 14 members received Police Medals for Gallantry (including four posthumously) and 32 officers and men (including seven retired members) were awarded with Police Medals for Meritorious Service.