BSF IG raises concern

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 20

Newly appointed IG BSF, Punjab Frontier, Mukul Goel, today raised serious concern over the dilapidated condition of border roads and Border Outposts (BOPs) along the international border in Punjab.

Interacting with media for the first time after taking charge, Goel said even though the Punjab frontier was amongst the oldest in India raised in 1965, the state government was yet to transfer the land of its BOPs to the BSF.

“Due to the non-transfer of the land, we are unable to construct or upgrade over 53 BOPs located in sensitive areas along with the border,” said Goel. He said the matter had been taken up with the state government recently and he hoped immediate action in the matter.

Also, he raised concern over the dilapidated condition of border roads in the state. Though refusing to accept that it was majorly due to illegal sand mining taking place in the border area, Goel said the state government should take measures to prevent any such illegal activity if it was taking place in the border area.

When asked about the sacking of BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav, Goel said he had broken the discipline of the force and had got punishment for his act. Also, he informed the gathering that after the incident, smart phones had been prohibited near the border posts.

Accepting the shortage of mobile interceptors with the BSF, Goel said it was required on an urgent basis as the Punjab BSF, guarding the 553 km-long border in Punjab, was unable to intercept mobile calls in border areas and had to rely on other security agencies for the same.Applauding the role of Punjab BSF in breaking the supply chain of drugs in Punjab, Goel said the BSF had seized 65 kg of heroin since January this year.