BSF to install 1,000 scanners along Bangladesh border to track infiltrators

As many as 1,000 scanners will soon be installed along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border to digitally maintain a database of infiltrators — including Bangladeshi citizens entering Indian territory illegally, as well as Indian nationals crossing into Bangladesh illicitly. The initiative will help the BSF track their movements and activities more effectively.

Sources told The Tribune that in the last three months, 296 scanners have already been deployed along the Bangladesh border. These devices have helped maintain biometric records of infiltrators, giving the Border Security Force (BSF) a much clearer understanding of the people who cross the border illegally in either direction.

This first-of-its-kind initiative will see an additional 1,000 scanners installed along the Bangladesh border in the coming months. The scanners record fingerprints of individuals caught attempting to cross the border illegally.

BSF officials noted that, in many cases, the same individuals attempt to enter Indian territory repeatedly, even after being caught and imprisoned previously. Most of these repeat offenders are smugglers, and due to their large numbers, maintaining records manually has been nearly impossible, a senior BSF official said.

Since the scanners have been installed, biometric details of infiltrators are recorded whenever they are arrested. This enables the BSF to track both their movements and profiles. For example, if a Bangladeshi infiltrator is caught while attempting to smuggle cattle, their biometric record can verify whether they had previously been caught for other activities or smuggling attempts, the official explained.

Similarly, several Indian nationals are intercepted while entering India after having crossed into Bangladeshi territory illegally. In such cases, biometric data helps track their movements and maintain accurate records.

The scanners also help in cases where Indian farmers accidentally cross into Bangladesh. Their details can be verified quickly, preventing unnecessary penal action against them, officials added.