SHILLONG, Nov 23 ? Admitting that the Border Security Force is ?handicapped? by shortage of manpower, the Director General of BSF, Ajay Raj Sharma, pleaded for strengthening of border management so as to enable the Force to become more effective.
Unfolding a three-pronged strategy to strengthen border management on the Indo-Bangla border in the north-eastern States, he said: ?The border fencing should be completed as early as possible.?
Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the Shillong Frontier, BSF, here this afternoon, Sharma said: ?We also need adequate number of troops to effectively patrol the international border. At present, there are large gaps.?
The BSF DG also underscored the importance of surveillance equipments which, he said serve as ? force multipliers?.
?We are now procuring ?thermal imagers? which will help towards better surveillance of movements across the border by infiltrators and other anti-social elements,? he pointed out. Sharma pointed out that diversion of BSF troops from the border for counter-insurgency operations and to handle internal law and order situations have severely affected the force whose primary role is to maintain the sanctity of the international borders.
?Recently four BSF battalions were sent to Manipur to tackle the volatile law-and-order situation in the State. Several battalions were also diverted for internal security duty in Assam in the wake of the series of bomb explosions?, the DG explained.
Despite the hurdles and limitations the BSF has been performing creditably killing 4,500 militants in J& K, Punjab and the North-east since 1965 besides arresting 11,000 other ultras. ?The force has also made tremendous sacrifices during the period losing nearly 4,000 men and officers?, he said.
The BSF, which has emerged as the ?biggest border guard force in the world?, has now embarked on a massive training and modernization programme. The five year programme, the third year of which is under progress, envisages a total outlay of Rs 2338 crore.
The modernization programme will cover improved weaponry, upgrading of the transport fleet, improved bullet-proofing, communication set-up and extensive computerisation.