Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the government is considering assigning additional areas of responsibility to the Border Security Force (BSF) to make it more effective in dealing with emerging security challenges.Mr Shah made the remarks while interacting with BSF personnel at Bhuj in Gujarat yesterday, after inaugurating two strategically important border outposts along the India-Pakistan border.He said that, in the 60th year of the BSF’s establishment, a decision has been taken to completely transform the force’s concept of border security. He announced the establishment of a quadrangular security grid, introducing the concept of ‘territorial security’ in place of the traditional approach of border security.Mr Shah said the initiative envisages shared responsibility among the public, civil administration, local police, armed forces and BSF personnel. He added that efforts are underway under the Smart Border Security Project to strengthen security grids along the borders.The Home Minister said the project involves an investment of thousands of crores of rupees. He expressed confidence that the deployment of drones, radars, watchtowers, advanced technology and security personnel would create a robust security grid. He asserted that once established, no one would dare to breach the country’s borders.Mr Shah said the government has formulated an action plan to establish a completely leak-proof security grid. He noted that previously sensitive areas such as Sir Creek and Harami Nala have now been fortified with watchtowers and proper connecting roads. He assured that the entire region would be fully secure from external threats within the next two years.The Home Minister said that securing the country’s borders and preventing illegal immigration are vital to protecting the nation’s demography. He lauded the BSF for serving as the nation’s ‘First Line of Defence’ with dedication over the past six decades.Referring to the Bangladesh border in West Bengal, Mr Shah said one of the major gaps in the country’s security grid was the incomplete fencing along the border in the state. However, he noted that the long-standing deadlock had ended and that the state government had provided land for border fencing within a week.He expressed confidence that completion of the fencing would help curb infiltration. He added that the installation of technological fencing is also being expedited in forested and riverine areas to prevent infiltration through these routes.
WhatsApp us