Months after the Union government enhanced the operational limits of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, the border guarding force carried out its first operation under the increased powers to catch cattle being smuggled illegally out of Assam.
The operation initiated from Bangladesh border on March 21 in Assam’s Silchar district entailed the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to seize a truck carrying nine buffaloes, more than 15 km from their outpost at Balichera.
A senior official said the increased territorial jurisdiction helped them plan operations better and also curtailed the ability of criminal elements to organise closer to the border areas. The Assam operation was based on a specific intelligence available with the border guarding force. “A special operation party, acting on a tip off, intercepted a truck near National Highway–6, near Digarkhal. The truck driver fled but the cattle was rescued and handed over to the police,” the official said.
The BSF works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Earlier, the BSF’s limit was fixed up to 80 km from the International Boundary in Gujarat and 15 km in Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. On October 11 last, the MHA, through a notification in the Gazette of India, enhanced the “arrest, search and seize” powers of the BSF up to 50 km from the International Boundary in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. In Gujarat, the limit was reduced from the existing 80 km to 50 km and in Rajasthan, the 50–km limit has remained unchanged. These powers pertain to specific crimes such as seizure of narcotics, cattle smuggling, prevention of trans–border crimes, illegal entry of foreigners among others. All cases and suspects are to be handed over to local police within 24 hours.
“The force was earlier also carrying out operations in border areas but it was limited to 2 to 5 km. There were operational and jurisdiction difficulties also. Now, it is easier to plan and execute operations. This in no way impinges on the rights of the local police as all suspects are handed over to them within 24 hours,” said the official.
The enhanced powers of the BSF have been opposed by the State governments of Punjab and West Bengal..
In Punjab, the operations have so far been restricted within 5 km from the International Border. Another official said the challenges around Punjab border were different as drones from across the border were being used to deliver drugs, arms and ammunition.
Recently, the Punjab government had informed a parliamentary committee that drones have been sighted over 133 times near Pakistan border in the last two years.
According to the BSF, in January and February, around 110 kg of drugs were seized along the Punjab border. In 2021 and 2020, such seizures stood at 486 kg and 507 kg respectively, much higher than the 231 kg seized in 2018 and the 233 kg recovered in 2019.
The BSF has acquired anti–drone machines to secure the border.
