From the rights of BSF to the increase in the number of soldiers, what is going on in the border states?

• Central government has approved the recruitment of 1.5 lakh soldiers in BSF
• In October 2021, the Modi government had increased the jurisdiction of BSF
• BSF’s area up to 50 KM from the border in Assam, Punjab and West Bengal
• BSF DG said, ‘deterioration of demographic balance’ may be the reason

Understand three developments related to BSF.  First, the Ministry of Home Affairs in October 2021 decided to increase the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF).  In Assam, Punjab and West Bengal, BSF will operate within a radius of 50 km from the border.  Earlier this range was 15 kms.  It was then said that this step was necessary to prevent smuggling of narcotics and weapons to the three border states.  Second, in November, BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh said that the “demographic balance” in border states such as Assam and West Bengal has deteriorated and perhaps that is why the Center extended the jurisdiction of the BSF.  Third, on Saturday (December 4), Home Minister Amit Shah told during the ‘Sainik Sammelan’ in Jaisalmer that the government has approved the proposal to recruit 1.5 lakh soldiers in BSF.

Now look at these three things together.  BSF’s challenges in the border states may not be coming from across the border.  At least that is what the statement of its Director General indicates.  The BSF has security of more than 6,300 km on the Indian fronts along with Pakistan in the west and Bangladesh in the east.  From increasing the authority to increasing the number of soldiers, it is a sign that all is not well in the border states like Assam, West Bengal.

Where is the deployment of BSF?
Apart from West Bengal and Assam, the states of Eastern Theater where BSF is deployed include Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura.  Apart from this, BSF is also responsible for the security of border areas in Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh.

Why should the rights be increased in only three states?
The Center in October increased the BSF’s jurisdiction in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam to 50 km from the earlier 15 km.  In Gujarat this limit was reduced from 80 km to 50 km while in Rajasthan no change was made.  The BSF’s jurisdiction was reduced from 80 km to 60 km in the five northeastern states- Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya.  The BSF said in November that the ‘enlarged jurisdiction would help the BSF strengthen its hands on the police’.  Controversy started over this move of the Centre.  The assemblies of opposition-ruled Punjab and West Bengal moved resolutions against this decision.  Both the states called it an encroachment on rights.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha this month, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, citing anti-national activities such as smuggling of arms, narcotics and counterfeit currency, said that the purpose of expanding the jurisdiction of the BSF is to enable this force to effectively fulfill its obligations. To be able to perform. Apart from this, it will also help in curbing the menace of cattle smuggling as smugglers take shelter in interior areas outside BSF jurisdiction, he said.

What does the DG of BSF think?
BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh said on Tuesday (November 30) that the “demographic balance” has deteriorated in border states like Assam and West Bengal. According to Singh, this could be one of the reasons behind the Centre’s decision. He said that the Center has not interfered in the local police system by doing so. He said the BSF was not trying to ‘act as a parallel police’. The powers to investigate and file charge sheets remain with the state. He said the new move would help the BSF and the state police to effectively check cross-border crimes such as smuggling of narcotics and arms.

Over time, you must have noticed that whether it is Assam or West Bengal, the demographic balance has gone awry to a great extent. For whatever reason it has changed…it has changed and there have been agitations in some states and for these reasons voices of dissent have emerged at times…even the ‘voting pattern’ has changed in some border districts .
Pankaj Kumar Singh, DG of BSF

The increasing use of drones in the border areas has particularly worried our security agencies. To meet this particular challenge, the need to slightly expand the boundaries of their jurisdiction is justified, it is quite possible.

Approval for recruitment of 1.5 lakh in BSF: Shah
The Central Government has approved the recruitment of 1.5 lakh people in BSF. At present its strength is 2,65,000 soldiers. During the ‘Sainik Sammelan’ organized in Jaisalmer, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday, ‘We have already done 50,000 recruitments and the process of recruiting an additional one lakh is going on.’ Shah said that the government is also trying to understand the problems of the soldiers and find solutions to them. Shah will also stay at the border outpost with BSF jawans. He will be the first Home Minister to do so.