BSF to raise 40 new battalions

BSF to raise 40 new battalions
Spl correspondent
 NEW DELHI, Nov 30 – The Border Security Force (BSF) plans to raise over 40 battalions to guard the Indo-Myanmar border and cover the entire border with heavy air support. The entire process of deployment is expected to take five years though.

The Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday cleared the proposal to replace the Assam Rifles with the BSF following reports of unchecked movement of militants through the highly porous international border that touches the North Eastern States of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and stretches up to 1,600 km.

Addressing reporters ahead of the 48th raising day of the BSF, its Director General Subhash Joshi answered a range of questions from illegal migration from Bangladesh to the new responsibility given to the border guarding force. "We were informed recently that a decision has been taken that the Indo-Myanmar border will now be guarded by the BSF and we have initially made a proposal to raise 40 battalions. We are working on the finer details of the proposal and within the next fortnight or so, we will be able to submit a detailed proposal," he said.

"It will then be submitted to the Union Cabinet. The Ministry of Home Affairs will move the Cabinet. After the Cabinet's approval, the modalities will be finalised. If everything goes well, it will take five years according to our estimate," he said. The BSF has proposed to buy additional MI 17 helicopters. "After the Myanmar border is handed over to us, we will need heavy air support because most of the BoPs will be located right on the border and at isolated places," he said. The BSF proposes to raise four sectors and 12 sector headquarters under an additional DG, who will be in charge of the Indo-Myanmar border.

The proposal was first moved during Home Minister P Chidambaram's tenure and was opposed by the Assam Rifles. Chidambaram was upset with the handling of the international border as several Chief Ministers, including those of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, had protested against the unchecked movement of militants.

The Assam Rifles has deployed 31 of its 46 battalions for counter-insurgency operations and only 15 battalions for guarding the border. However, these 15 battalions have not been deployed along the border; they operate from bases which are located far inside the Indian territory. In short, the Assam Rifles functions more like a counter-insurgency force than as a border guarding force. As a result, it has failed to dominate the border and prevent widespread infiltration and smuggling, a security analyst said.

Meanwhile, on Anup Chetia's deportation, the BSF DG said that the question should be put before the Bangladesh Government. "As you are aware, the Bangladesh border is not fully fenced because of the terrain. The agencies involved in the construction of fences have been asked to expedite their work. We will be able to complete the remaining fencing work soon and wherever it is not possible, we are looking for technological solutions. In the next two or three years, we will be able to complete the fencing work along the India-Bangladesh sector. As per our assessment, illegal migration has decreased. When we complete the fencing work and more units are raised, we will be able to man the entire international border," he added.

A senior BSF official, while confirming the reports of the existence of at least 50 camps in Bangladesh, said that these camps are located across Tripura and Mizoram, which have dense forests. About the new initiatives taken by the BSF along the India-Bangladesh border, the BSF official said 82 BoPs are being mapped for vulnerability from the angles of illegal migration, human trafficking and smuggling of Phensedyl, fake Indian currency notes (FICN) and cattle.

Under the Coordinated Border Management Plan which India and Bangladesh have signed to resolve minor issues, the nodal officers have been designated by the BSF and the BGB. At least 117 vulnerable patches have been identified for simultaneous coordinated patrol.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/12/01/bsf-to-raise-40-new-battalions/