Need more men to seal border: BSF

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 6

The vigil by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the Indo-Pak border is at the centre of a political tug-of-war over drug smuggling between the Akalis and the BJP.

The SAD sought complete sealing of the international border during its dharna-cum-awareness rallies near the border yesterday. Akali leaders claimed that international peddlers were using the state as a transit point for smuggling drugs.

However to seal the 552-km-long border, the BSF would require five times more budget, 1,100 additional men, 36 more thermal imaging cameras, over 500 unattended ground sensors, besides laser wall over the 50 km of riverbed and water channels. A BSF officer said: “It is impossible for any country to completely seal its international border. India has still managed to fence most of the border, barring the riverbeds and water channels. We need more men and technical support to ensure foolproof security.”

He claimed despite the shortage of men and equipment, the BSF was on high alert which was evident from over 350 kg of heroin seizure last year. The BSF has at present about three battalions, consisting of about 1,550 jawans. It would need at least 1,000 more jawans or two battalions to ensure maximum security along the border.

The BSF is already planning to erect a laser wall on the riverbeds. The BSF, Jammu frontier, has made this demand for use along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu. The BSF in Punjab has also made a similar demand. The BSF needs a paved road along the fence for patrolling. “We try to have a paved road wherever possible as the movement of men and vehicles becomes difficult during the rainy season. All these factors are not known to those who question us,” he added.