Punjabs Border Security Force Is Combating Trans Border Trafficking And Terror

Punjab has a 553 Km long international border with Pakistan on the other side. Once a transit point on the drug route of the golden triangle (Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) Punjab is now a massive consumer base, making the trafficking of narcotics into Punjab and beyond an extremely profitable trade. But, it is not only drugs that threaten the security of the border, but other elements as well.

As India's first line of defence, Border Security Force (BSF) stands as the vanguard against infiltration, exfiltration, trafficking and terror at this border. With thousands of troops deployed at the border, it is always under surveillance.

In fact, the 10 feet tall, layers of barbed fence combined with 5 live Kobra wires capable of giving an electric shock of 440Volts is only one of the 4 levels of security at the border. BSF troops patrol the areas across the fence and on the Indian side regularly.

Covert teams in camouflage remain deployed through the nights waiting to ambush un-identified movement in the fields. Some other security measures are undertaken by BSF and the state police combined, to secure areas few kilometres from the Border as patrolling continues day in day out.

Despite, such tight security, a good amount of illegal trade has been traced back to the border. As smugglers become more creative they pose new challenges for the BSF.

BSG IG Frontier Mahipal Yadav said,

The profit is too high, and they are desperate, so they take all measures possible. They are criminals, the fence can stop normal people, but criminals will not stop there, so if we were not physically present the fence would be breached, and it has in the past.

The BSF makes use of old age patrolling methods like horses for their good sense and agility, and also new-age technology like the surveillance equipment placed on top of towers.

Along with protecting the border, the BSF also engages local farmers in nearby villages through civic action programs. To keep them integrated and also to secure help from them to find shelter from within the village, as in many cases it is the villagers who help traffickers and infiltrators conduct their business from across the border.

The BSF routinely opens the gates at the border to allow farmers access to their lands and even assists them across the fence until they return back safely, upon being asked why to take the risk to farm the lands, the BSF IG Frontier said,

It is fertile land on the other side of fence, owned by these farmers, why should we let it go to waste, so we help them work on their farms and return safely.