Damaged Barbed Fencing on Indo-Pak Border being replaced by BSF

To prevent infiltration and flow of arms, ammunition and drugs from the Pakistani side, the Indian authorities are replacing damaged barbed wire fences along the international border, BSF DIG (Gurdaspur sector) N K Mishra said here today.

The barbed wire fences, erected along the Indo-Pak border in Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ferozepur districts of Punjab during the days of militancy in the eighties, were damaged due to flood and other reasons, Mishra said.

The damaged fencing is being replaced in the periphery that falls in Gurdaspur sector, where it gets affected due to flood in rivers and their tributaries, he said.

The border area of Gurdaspur sector is 116-km long from Jammu to Ajnala in Amritsar district, and is mostly riverine area of Ravi, he said.

Moreover, earlier the fencing was erected on soil which worn out over time, now the barbed wire is being erected on concrete base. The concrete base would be 12-ft high and eight feet wide, he said, adding that the work was being executed by the Central Public Works Department.

The replacing of damaged barbed wire on the international border would not only further strengthen the external security of the country, but also help farmers living on the borders protect their crops from animals across the fence, he added.

Mishra said there are well-lit barbed wire fencing, flood light backed by sound and other devices, thermal imagers, and other equipment installed, along with manual patrolling, in sensitive gaps to ensure that no infiltration takes place from across the border.

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/BSF-Replacing-Damaged-Barbed-Fencing-on-Indo-Pak-Border/2014/06/05/article2264847.ece

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 detects another portion of secret tunnel

Jammu, May 2: Border Security Force has detected another portion of `secret tunnel’ unearthed on India-Pak border in Samba district, in 2012.

Director General BSF Devender Kumar Pathak, currently on a three day visit to Jammu frontier was briefed by local commanders soon after a portion of the caved in cross border tunnel was detected by the BSF jawans on Friday in Samba sector, a local news gathering agency JKNI reported.

DG BSF, who took review of the prevailing security situation along the International border also visited some of the Border outposts in Kathua district and interacted with BSF jawans to boost their morale.

According to official sources, BSF jawans tasked with the job of cleaning sarkanda in the forward areas along the IB detected portion of the cross border tunnel close to the zero line in Samba sector on Friday morning.

The local commanders immediately informed the frontier headquarters and rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

After carrying out necessary ground work the BSF authorities in the area claimed there was no need to raise an alarm as the portion of the cross border tunnel existed along the same axis of the tunnel detected in July 2012.

The BSF had earlier detected a 20-25 ft deep, 400 metre long tunnel near Chilyari post in Samba in July 2012. Following the detection of tunnel BSF had roped in expertise of GSI to detect presence of any other tunnel in the area. GSI experts mapped the area in detail and suggested methods to plug the loop holes after carrying out exhaustive study.

Following the detection of cross border tunnel the local BSF commander has alerted his jawans to prevent any infiltration bid from across the border.

Source: http://jammu.greaterkashmir.com/news/2014/May/3/bsf-detects-another-portion-of-secret-tunnel-42.asp

BSF chief reviews situation, calls for plugging all routes

JAMMU, May 2: Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Devender Kumar Pathak today held a high level review of security preparedness along the International Border (IB) in Hiranagar and Samba sectors, where two major fidayeen attacks had taken place in September, 2013 and March, 2014 leading to the killing of 19 persons including six militants.

The BSF chief, who is on first three days visit of Jammu frontiers after taking over as the DG BSF on April 8, also reviewed Riverine Integrated Surveillance and Communication System installed by the BSF along Tarnah Nullah to plug the gaps along the unfenced Nullahs and check movement of the militants.

Official sources told the Excelsior that Mr Pathak would be visiting the BSF posts in forward areas of Rajouri district tomorrow before returning to New Delhi. He had reached BSF Headquarters at Paloura yesterday.

Sources said Mr Pathak visited extreme forward areas along Paharpur and Bobiya in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district and Pansar in Samba sector along with IG BSF, Jammu Frontiers SS Tomar and other senior BSF officers and reviewed the operational preparedness of the BSF especially the measures put in place to check infiltration attempts by the militants.

The BSF chief directed that no route should be left unplugged which could give the militants a chance to infiltrate into this side. While the entire IB has been fenced, there were some Nullahs including Tarnah Nullah, which had reportedly been used by three militants to infiltrate into this side and carry out attack along the National Highway followed by Janglote Army camp.

Sources said Pathak hailed the BSF efforts in maintaining strict vigil on the International Border but wanted them to plug the gaps, if any, on the border to ensure that there was no fresh fidayeen attack after infiltration from the border.

The BSF officers briefed Mr Pathak that they had been maintaining round the clock vigil along the borders and have also prepared Riverine Integrated Surveillance and Communication System for the unplugged Nullahs to check infiltration from there. The BSF chief reviewed the System installed on the Nullahs and reportedly favoured that it should cover all Nullahs, leading to the International Border so that no scope was left for infiltration from the IB and for the militants to carry out strikes on the Highway or other places.

Sources said the BSF officers also apprised the chief about movement of militants on Pakistan side of the IB and their attempts to infiltrate into Jammu, which the BSF has regularly thwarted through constant vigil on the borders.

At Paharpur, Bobiya and Pansar forward areas, the BSF chief inter-acted with field commanders of the BSF to acquaint himself with the situation on the border and steps taken to check infiltration attempts, sources said, adding the BSF chief also reviewed operational preparedness of the Force.

The BSF chief’s visit to Tarnah Nullah gained importance as it was believed that three militants, who had struck at Tarnah in Hiranagar tehsil of Kathua district along Jammu-Pathankot National Highway on March 28 had infiltrated from this route. After the militant attack, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had posted a strong worded tweet asking the BSF to plug the gaps effectively to ensure that there was no fidayeen attack in future.

The militants had appeared at Tarnah Bridge on the Highway and killed a civilian travelling in Bolero before hijacking the vehicle and taking it to Janglote Army camp in Kathua. They had also killed the Bolero driver. In the encounter with the Army, one Army jawan was killed while troops had eliminated all three fidayeens.

Prior to this, three fidayeens had appeared at border village of Hariya Chak at Hiranagar on September 26, 2013, hijacked a load carrier and struck at Hiranagar police station killing four cops and two civilians. Later, they had hijacked a truck parked in the police station and struck at 16 Cavalry Unit Army camp at Mehsar, Samba, where they killed four Army soldiers including a Lieutenant Colonel before being eliminated by the troops.

A total of 19 persons including six militants were killed in the two attacks.

Though the BSF had maintained that the militants, who struck at Hiranagar police station and Mehsar Army camp on September 26 hadn’t infiltrated from the International Border, there were few takers of this version. However, after the Chief Minister’s strong worded statement after March 28 terror attack, the BSF maintained silence on route taken by three militants to reach the Highway.

Sources said even the BSF was puzzled about infiltration by the militants as it had virtually sealed the entire International Border and was even manning the Nullahs.

Meanwhile, another portion of underground tunnel, which the BSF and civilians had detected at Chechwal and Chilariyan forward villages in Samba sector in July, 2012, was detected today in the same area after the land caved in at small place.

BSF officers reached the spot but it was found that there was no new tunnel but it was part of the old tunnel, which had been detected about 540 meters deep inside the Indian territory from the IB in July 2012, which had been constructed by the Rangers and the militants to push infiltrators, weaponry and narcotics into this side.

BSF had cordoned off the area to detect further route of the tunnel though it was confirmed that the tunnel was an old one and not new. The BSF had already closed the exit route of the tunnel on the Indian side when it was detected in 2012.

Source: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/bsf-chief-reviews-situation-calls-for-plugging-all-routes/