New BSF IG takes charge

Dinesh Kumar Upadhyaya reportedly took over the Command of Inspector General (IG) Border Security Force (BSF) Mizoram and Cachar Frontier at a formal charge-taking over ceremony held on May 19 at Masimpur, Silchar (Assam).

According to a BSF statement received here, Upadhyaya is a highly decorated 1984 batch Direct Entry Officer who is a recipient of President Police Medal for Distinguish Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

The Officer is Post Graduate in Physics (Electronics) and had served in various important assignments both in Command and Staff Level.

He has also served at the Sector Headquarters and has a fair knowledge about the functioning and areas including difficulties being faced by the troops in remote and hostile terrain under the jurisdiction of the Frontier.

Speaking at the occasion, IG BSF Satish Budakoti, who is also the Mizoram & Cachar Frontier spokesperson highlighted that during his more than 30 years of service in the elite force, Dinesh Kumar Upadhyaya served in almost all the International borders, including fighting against militancy in the Kashmir valley.

The new incumbent had also served in the elite SPG during his service and was in the close protection team of Prime Minister of India.

The officer is well travelled within India and abroad and has got experience in dealing with high level delegations at various levels, a PRO BSF statement informed.

After taking over the charge of the Inspector General, Dinesh Kumar Upadhyaya emphasised on special attention towards maintaining cordial relationship with the counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh "BGB" and also to prevent infiltration, smuggling and Trans border crimes.

He has specifically directed troops under command to maintain good and cordial relations with civil population residing in border areas, added the release.

Source: http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=13..220514.may14

BSF, BGB remember war heroes of the 1971 Indo-Pak war at Kilapara

The BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today paid homage to and remembered the unsung BSF heroes of the 1971 Indo-Pak war at Kilapara, West Garo Hills. The names of BSF martyrs are engraved in golden letters on the war memorial erected at the India-Bangladesh international border, a release said.

“It was heroic effort and supreme sacrifice of the BSF martyrs that denied the enemy strategic control over the Dalu-Tura road during the Liberation War of Bangladesh”.

The BSF director-general D.S. Pathak and his BGB counterpart Maj. Gen. Aziz Ahmed were among those who paid respect to the martyrs at the war memorial.

Paying tributes to the martyrs of Kilapara, Pathak said: “This is really a special day in our endeavour to remember and honour the martyrs of Kilapara. Last year, we inaugurated the Martyrs’ Memorial and today we have again got together to offer our tributes to the heroic saga of sacrifice and courage”.

Pathak said they were also capturing the saga in the form of a documentary made by the BSF at the initiative of additional director-general (Eastern Command) so that their memories remain fresh and continue to inspire the future generations of the two countries.

The services of professionals from Calcutta were taken to shoot the documentary, he added.

Commandant (retd) B.S. Tyagi, the then commander of border outposts at Dalu and Kalita and the wife of Constable P.C. Kalita who laid down his life at Kilapara, were among those who were present on the occasion.

Many officers of the BGB at the level of deputy director-general from Dhaka, region commanders, sector commanders accompanied Gen. Ahmed in paying homage to the martyrs.

A scene of May 25, 1971, — the day the soldiers died — was recreated by BSF troops through a realistic demonstration which was applauded by the spectators.

Several Bangladesh freedom fighters including Dr. Mehmud, then sub-sector commander of Mymensingh sector of Mukti Bahini, his wife and two of his comrades, who were injured during the war, were also present.

Later the BSF and the BGB felicitated these war veterans.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140509/jsp/northeast/story_18323140.jsp#.U2zPoPmSyz4