Border Security Force Archives - Lokmarg

They Will Throw You Out: Mamata On BSF Giving Separate ID Card

By LokMarg 29th January 2024

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the Border Security Force (BSF) has been providing separate identity card to the people in the border areas and asked people to refrain from taking the card as they could be kicked out of the country under the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Banerjee’s remarks came after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Sunday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be implemented across the country in a week.

“The BSF is oppressing the people. The BSF wants to give a separate identity card to the people in the border areas. Remember, do not take the separate identity card that the BSF wants to give by entering the border area; say that I have an Aadhaar card or that I have a ration card; say that I will not take your card. If you take that card, you will come under the NRC, and they will throw you out,” Mamata Banerjee said.

“Please enrol your name in the voters’ list. So that Delhi cannot get a chance to throw out you of the state,” said Mamata Banerjee said.

Further, she targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not mentioning Sita and Lord Ram’s mother, Kaushalya, saying, “Mother and sister are the pride of society; they(women) will cook and do everything that is necessary so that the country and society can be protected.”

“You have forgotten Mother Sita. You do not say the name of Mother Sita; you do not say the name of Kaushalya, the mother who gave birth to Lord Rama. How is a child born without a mother? Without a wife, how can a husband move forward? Do you not remember Sita’s ‘Agni Pariksha’, her entry into the Patal lok? Mother and sister are the pride of society; they will cook and do whatever is necessary when needed so that the country and society can be protected,” CM Banerjee said.

The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, aims to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Following the passage of the CAA by Parliament in December 2019 and its subsequent presidential assent, significant protests erupted in various parts of the country. (ANI)

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BSF all-women marching and brass band contingents

BSF’s All-Women Marching Brass-Band Contingents To Debut In R-Day Parade

By LokMarg 10th January 2024

In a first, the Border Security Force’s (BSF) all-women marching and brass band contingents will participate in this year’s Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path.

An Assistant Commandant rank woman officer and two subordinate officers will lead a total of 144 women BSF constables marching down Kartavya Path on January 26 when India will be celebrating its 75th Republic Day in the presence of Emmanuel Macron, President of France, as the Chief Guest.

The BSF calls it a ‘Mahila Foot Contingent,’ whose all participants belong to almost every state in the country. Of the total participants, a maximum of 27 belong to West Bengal, 10 each from Jammu and Kashmir as well as Punjab, 12 from the North East, and others from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and other states.

Besides the marching contingent, a 72-member brass band contingent along with a bandmaster and two assistant band masters will also be participating in the parade for the first time.

BSF’s women marching contingents are among those Central Armed Police Forces that are set to send their women contingents to march on Kartavya Path on this Republic Day.

The Ministry of Defence had last year asked all the forces, state governments, and departments participating in the Republic Day parade to have women participants in their contingents, bands, and tableaux.

Speaking to ANI about the participation of the women contingent, BSF’s 25th Battalion Commandant Kamal Kumar said the objective of the Government of India is to ensure the maximum participation of women during the Republic Day parade.

“BSF’s women foot march as well as brass band contingents are being prepared to participate for the first time in this year’s Republic Day parade. If we talk about their strength, the women’s foot contingent is 144. The contingent will be led by an Assistant Commandant level officer accompanied by two platoon commandoes,” Kumar said.

“There are 75 members in our brass band contingent in which there will be one bandmaster and two platoon commanders. The total number of musical instrument contingents is 72,” added the officer.

He additionally mentioned that every state in India is represented by women in our contingent. “There are members from Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, western state, and the northern states, almost from all the states,” he said.

One of the participants from the BSF’s marching contingent, namely Anita, told ANI, “Till now, only the male contingent used to participate in the Republic Day parade. Now, a women’s contingent is also going to march on the Republic Day parade this year.”

“We are very proud to think that we are going to create history for the force. This is a very good opportunity for us,” she said.

The BSF’s marching contingent has a unique distinction of participating in every Republic Day parade, and it has been adjudged the best marching contingent three times in 1997, 2012, and 2016.

BSF’s marching contingent and its camel contingent have jointly participated in the Republic Day parade since 1976. The force’s women bike riding contingent has also participated in the Republic Day parade in 2019 and 2022. (ANI)

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59th Raising Day of the BSF in Jharkhand Amit Shah

J’khand: Shah Honours Fallen Heroes At BSF’s 59th Raising Day

By LokMarg 1st December 2023

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday paid tribute to the Border Security Force personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty on the 59th Raising Day of the BSF in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district.

The BSF, which is the largest border guarding force in the world with a strength of nearly 2.5 lakh personnel, celebrates its Raising Day every year on December 1.

Mandated to guard the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh border, the BSF is the only force of the nation with a distinctly defined wartime as well as peacetime role. It has successfully proved its mettle in accomplishing every task assigned in times of war and peace while ensuring peace and tranquillity on the border.

The BSF troops, deployed in the most challenging terrain and remote locations, have been serving as the guardians of India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Till 1965, India’s border with Pakistan was manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. On April 9, 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression, due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialised, centrally controlled Border Security Force that would be armed and trained to man the international border with Pakistan.

As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on December 1, 1965.

Initially, in 1965, BSF was raised with 25 battalions and, with the passage of time, was expanded as per the requirement of the nation to fight against militancy in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and the Northeast region.

At present, BSF is holding 192 (including three NDRF) battalions and seven BSF artillery regiments guarding the international border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In addition, BSF is also performing an anti-infiltration role in Kashmir Valley, counter-insurgency in the North East region, anti-naxal operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh states and security of integrated checkposts along the Pakistan and Bangladesh international borders. (ANI)

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Pak Rangers Were Totally Unexplainable, Warned Them: BSF DG

By LokMarg 30th November 2023

Pakistan Rangers were “totally unexplainable” and gave excuses when confronted on violating the ceasefire agreement in Samba on November 9, in which a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed, Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) Nitin Agarwal said on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI on the sideline of the annual press conference the BSF chief said, “Our job is to retaliate every time they (Pakistan Rangers) fire, and we do that. We did it on these three occasions.”

“Our effort is not to create provocation. We don’t provoke. If they fire at us, we definitely return the fire. So, that’s what we did,” Agarwal said.

In the flag meeting, the DG said, “We made it clear that we are not going to tolerate this.”

“You (Pakistan Rangers) must not do this. This was an International Border. This was not even LC. So, it was totally unexplainable why they fired. Probably, they must have some internal issues for which they were trying to gain some accolades in terms of Army victory or something like that,” the BSF chief mentioned.

Asked if any precautionary measures were being taken after the ceasefire violation to avoid casualties, Agarwal said, “We are sometimes exposed to the enemy in our movement in the camp, in the Border Outposts. We are trying to minimise that. We don’t present any opportunity to them.”

Addressing the press conference, he also said, “The jury is still out on why they violated the ceasefire. When we raised the issue with them (Pak Rangers) during a flag meeting, they did not have answers and gave excuses.”

Agarwal said a befitting response was given to the unprovoked firing resulting in casualties on the Pakistani side.

“We gave a befitting reply to the unprovoked firing and there were casualties on the Pakistani side. I want to assure you that the border is completely secure,” he said.

Earlier, a BSF jawan, head constable Lal Fam Kima, was killed after Pakistan Rangers opened unprovoked firing from automatic weapons along the International Border (IB) in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district on November 9. This was the third major ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Ranger, since October 17. Overall, Pakistani forces have violated the ceasefire at least four times this year.

The BSF later lodged a strong protest with the Pakistan Rangers over the unprovoked firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and villages along the International Border.

The decision to recommit to the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was taken after a meeting between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on February 24-25, 2021.

In 2021, 72 such cross-border firing incidents were recorded at the international border and Line of Control (LoC), but most were before the two sides agreed to hold the ceasefire.

Prior to this, incidents of cross-border firing on patrolling troops, villagers, the Indian army and BSF forward posts were recorded every year in thousands. In 2020, close to 5,133 incidents of ceasefire violations- the highest since 2003, while 3,479 violations were registered in 2019 when the Indian government revoked Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir

Agrawal was speaking to reporters during the annual press meet at the Border Security Force camp in the Meru area of Hazaribag in Jharkhand on the eve of the 59th Raising Day of the force.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the BSF’s 59th Raising Day event in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh and take the salute of the ceremonial parade here on Friday. (ANI)

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BSF Foils Another Cattle Smuggling Attempt On India-Bangladesh Border

By LokMarg 16th November 2023

Using recent addition of drone with night vision, the Border Security Force (BSF) has foiled another attempt of cattle smuggling on India-Bangladesh International Border within span of a month and caught seven cattle.

The fresh success was achieved by the sixth Battalion of the BSF under Jalpaiguri Sector of North Bengal Frontier in West Bengal’s Coochbehar district on November 15 when, acting on a tip off, the drone with night vision was used to keep close watch on all the suspected areas of cattle smuggling in the Border Outpost Oran.

As per the BSF, at about 5.10 pm, the drone operation observed the movements of six-seven cattle smugglers approaching towards International Boundary alongwith seven cattle corresponding to Dahagram Angrapota Main Pillar 4/11-S.

Accordingly, the force said, patrolling party of Border Outpost Oran were alerted.

“As and when cattle smugglers came to close, BSF party challenged them and tried to apprehended them. But, cattle smugglers flee away taking the advantage of darkness, foggy, undulating ground and riverine channel.

“Meanwhile, cattle were scattered. BSF party thoroughly searched the area and at about 8 pm, BSF party seized scattered seven cattle with the help of drone with night vision,” said the BSF.

The BSF said there is drastic change in trans-border crimes especially in cattle smuggling and illegal crossing due to use of drone by the force on the India-Bangladesh border area, and both sides of smuggle and touts are frightened due to effective use of the technology in border area.

Before this, on September 28, troops of Border Outpost Oran of the sixth Battalion of BSF also scaught four cattle with the help of drone with night vision capability as smugglers were trying to smuggle cattle to Bangladesh from India.

“Troops of under command Battalions of North Bengal Frontier BSF deployed on India-Bangladesh border under the dynamic leadership of Soorya Kant Sharma, Inspector General of North Bengal Frontier of BSF are maintaining high alertness of highest order on the border to thwart any attempt of anti-national elements to execute their nefarious designs of smuggling, infiltration and exfiltration,” added the BSF.

The BSF is mandated to guard 4096.70 km India-Bangladesh border running along West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. (ANI)

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Pak Intruder Shot Dead Near International Border In Punjab: BSF

By LokMarg 11th August 2023

Border Security Force personnel shot dead an intruder from Pakistan and thereby foiled an infiltration bid along the Inda Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran in the early hours of Friday morning.

The BSF said, some suspicious movements were observed near the border security fence on the international border early this morning, and immediately took positions.

When the intruders kept on moving closer to the border fence, the troops fired on them.

“Alert BSF Troops on August 11 observed suspicious movement of a Pakistani miscreant/ intruder ahead of the border fencing in the area falling near the bordering village-Thekalan in the Tarn Taran district. The intruder was challenged by the forces but he could not stop and continued moving ahead,” a statement by the BSF read.

“Sensing an imminent threat and to stop further misadventure, BSF troops fired upon the miscreant in self-defence, killing him on the spot,” it read.

BSF killed two unidentified intruders from Pakistan, who had crossed into Indian territory and recovered three packets of suspected contraband items close to the India-Pakistan border in May this month while it arrested a Pakistani national near the International Border in Punjab in the same month

The troopers of BSF on the Punjab Frontier captured 22 drones sent from across the boundary, killed two Pakistani intruders and seized 316 kilograms of drugs in the year 2022.

In an earlier statement, BSF had mentioned, “The troops of the Punjab Frontier have maintained an extremely high level of alertness and vigil. Resultantly, BSF has successfully detected and captured 22 drones and seized 316.988 kgs of heroin, 67 weapons, 850 rounds and killed two Pakistan intruders and apprehended 23 Pakistan nationals in different incidents.” (ANI)

BSF Recovers Pak Drone Near Intl Border In Punjab’s Tarn Taran

By LokMarg 21st July 2023

BSF and Punjab Police troops have recovered a drone in broken condition from the farming field near Mastgarh village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, officials said on Friday.

On Friday morning, on specific information, BSF and Punjab Police launched a search operation and recovered the Pakistani drone from the outskirts of Mastgarh village.
“The recovered drone belongs to Quadcopter, DJI Matrice 300 RTK model,” officials said.

Earlier, the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled the nefarious design of smugglers by seizing 2.35 kg of heroin dropped by a Pakistani drone near the International Border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on Tuesday.

During the detailed search, the BSF troops recovered one packet of narcotics suspected to be heroin weighing 2.35 kg wrapped with yellow adhesive tape from the farming field ahead of border fencing. (ANI)

No Casualty Where Central Troops Were Deployed: BSF On Bengal Violence

By LokMarg 9th July 2023

After a wave of violence claimed at least 10 lives in West Bengal during Panchayat polls on Saturday, the Border Security Force (BSF) officials on Sunday said that no casualty was reported at the places where the central forces were deployed.

Deputy Inspector General of BSF SS Guleria, while speaking to ANI said that the central force did not receive any list marking sensitive and very sensitive polling booths to deploy personnel there.
“Yesterday troops of BSF, CAPF and State Armed Forces were deployed for the Panchayat polls. No casualty was reported at the places these troops were deployed. Wherever these troops were deployed the elections were conducted smoothly…We did not receive a list of sensitive, very sensitive polling booths which is helpful for the deployment of forces,” SS Guleria said.

He further said that the BSF wrote to the state election commission but did not receive any information provided except on June 7, when they were informed of just the numbers of such booths but nothing about their location or any other information.

The three-tier panchayat elections in 20 districts were marked by widespread violence, looting of ballots papers and rigging.

At least 10 people were killed and several injured in violence reported across the state during the Panchayat poll. There were reports of booth capturing, damaging of ballot boxes and assault of presiding officers from several districts such as Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Malda, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Nadia.

He added that the deployment of BSF was at the behest of local administration.

“There were 59,000 troops of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and state armed police arrived from 25 states for election duty but they were not adequately utilised on sensitive polling booths,” he said.

The state declared only 4834 sensitive booths on which only CAPFs are deployed but actually, there were more sensitive polling booths, DIG Guleria said.

BSF informed that the State Election Commission has set up a total of 61,636 polling booths to conduct elections for 3317 Gram Panchayats, 341 Panchayat Samitis and 20 Zila Parishads in the state of West Bengal on Saturday.

To ensure the safe conduct of the polls, 59,000 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and other state police forces have been given the responsibility for the security of polling booths across the state which also includes 4834 sensitive booths on which only CAPFs are deployed, they further informed.

After the completion of the polling process in the evening, all the ballot boxes were kept secured in the 339 strong rooms across the state and the responsibility to secure the strong rooms is given to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). (ANI)

Manipur: Fresh Firing Reported At Bishnupur

By LokMarg 8th July 2023

The situation in Manipur remains volatile as intermittent firing continued at the general area of Kangvai-Awang Lekhai area in Bishnupur district on Friday night.

According to the sources, Additional Border Security Forces (BSF) were inducted to bring the situation under control as columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles moved to the general area of Songdo.
The sources further said that one police personnel was injured during a retaliatory firing incident.

An exchange of fire was also reported in the Laikot area of YKPI with the situation being monitored by the security forces.

A mob of nearly 200 people built up at Mahabali road and set two vehicles on fire near the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal, Manipur.

According to sources, the mob also tried to snatch weapons from the police.

“The police had to resort to firing to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control, although no casualties were reported in the incident,” the sources said.

No casualty has been reported.

The sources further said that another mob of nearly 200 people had gathered at Palace Compound in Imphal West but Army and Rapid Action Force personnel were able to disperse by 12.30 am today.

According to a statement by Manipur Police, the situation is tense in some parts with sporadic incidents of firing, but is normal in most districts in Manipur, an official statement from Manipur police said on Thursday.

“The situation is tense in some places with sporadic incidents of firing and congregation of unruly mob during the last 24 hours. However, the situation is normal in most districts,” said the statement.

The statement added that the State Police and Central forces on Thursday conducted search operations in the vulnerable and fringe areas in both the hill and valley districts of the state.

The official statement further said that on July 6, a joint team of Manipur Police and the Central Security Forces (CSF) destroyed 24 bunkers in the districts of Manipur. (ANI)

BSF Neutralizes Pak Intruder Near Intl Border In J-K

By LokMarg 1st June 2023

The Border Security Force (BSF) neutralized a Pakistani intruder near the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba area in the early hours of Thursday.

The BSF troops deployed in the Jammu sector neutralized the intruder as he kept advancing towards border fencing despite warnings from the personnel.
“In the early hours of June 1, 2023, the alert BSF troops noticed a suspicious movement of a person who crossed IB from the Pakistan side in the Samba area,” the BSF said in a statement.

He was challenged by the troops but the intruder kept advancing towards border fencing, said the BSF, which is mandated to guard the 3,323 km India-Pakistan border.

“The troops fired on him and shot him dead. Further details are being ascertained,” the BSF added. (ANI)