In the Forefront

Subhashis Mittra

The valour and unwavering spirit of the Border Security Force (BSF) in protecting the nation’s boundaries is a testament to their dedication. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made this encouraging remark on the Raising Day of the border guarding force in December. “On BSF’s Raising Day, we laud this excellent force, which has made a mark as a guardian of our frontiers. I would also like to appreciate the role of BSF during rescue and relief work in the wake of natural disasters,” the Prime Minister added.

Speaking on the occasion in Hazaribag (Jharkhand) on December 1, Union home minister Amit Shah claimed that India’s two major borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will be completely secured in the next two years, with work underway to completely plug gaps in about a 60 kilometre stretch along these two fronts.

The home minister, who took the salute at the ceremonial parade, said the Narendra Modi government has fenced and plugged gaps in about 560 kilometres of the India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders in the last nine years since it came to power at the Centre. These gaps were being used for infiltration and smuggling. All the gaps in these two borders on India’s western and eastern flank respectively are being plugged and work in only about 60 kilometres is left. In the next two years we will entirely secure these two borders, Shah said.

The two borders—2,290 kilometres of India-Pakistan International Border and 4,096 kilometres of India-Bangladesh border—are marked by long riverine, mountainous and marshy areas where it is very