Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday ordered Border Security Force (BSF) to curb cow smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border at any cost. Addressing the 49th Raising Day celebrations of BSF, Singh said, “I want to tell BSF jawans and officers that you should stop the smuggling of cows (at this border) at any cost and if you are doing that already I compliment you for that.”“You (BSF) have to work on many frontiers. You have to strive to stop illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, deal with narcotics, and fake currency notes being smuggled into the country,” the Minister said.
The 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border is guarded by BSF and the frontier is notorious for smuggling of cattle, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes.
Lauding the role of BSF for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan during the recent spate of ceasefire violations, he said, “You showed a lot of patience during these ceasefire violations despite Pakistan provoking and doing repeated violations. It is because of your hard work that no one can cast its evil eye on India. You have a glint of patriotism on your faces today.”
“A threat is a threat. I think our neighbouring countries should take precautions because no one can remain untouched (terror activities),” he told reporters on the sidelines of the event in response to questions on emergence of terror groups like ISIS and subversive activities of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.
Singh added that the security mechanism of the country has devised “plans” to stop and check such terrorist activities and these measures were also discussed during the recently held conference of the top police brass of the country in Guwahati.
Praising the contribution of the BSF during the 1971 war with Pakistan, he urged the paramilitary bosses to bring out a booklet and inscribe the names of its 1,700 martyrs on the memorial established by the force.
Singh also complimented the force on implementing an innovative border area surveillance platform which is a live visual communication link which can beam real-time images of the border posts and locations to the headquarters in the national capital.
On the occasion, Communication Contingent displayed its “integrated video surveillance equipment”, which is based on concept — ‘SMART BORDER-SMART BOPS’. Through the system, the audience at the function was treated to live footage of India-Pak border on a vehicle mounted smart screen.
He said BSF has stood the test of time along the western border every time.
During the event, BSF Director General DK Pathak said the Union Home Ministry has accorded “in-principle” approvals to some of the infrastructure and operational requirements of the force.
Financial approvals are required by the force to have 274 border posts with drinking water lines, Rs464 crore for constructing operational ‘nakas’ and observation posts on both the Bangladesh and Pakistan borders and Rs90 crore for creating 393 advanced fibre huts at the Line of Control (LoC), Pathak added.
Source: Pioneer