'Deploy BSF on Punjab border at par with J&K'

The Punjab Government on Friday appealed to the Centre to increase deployment of Border Security Force (BSF) on the Punjab’s international border with Pakistan on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir to stem infiltration of terrorists. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, in his letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, stated that the State Government has taken all necessary actions including deployment of trainees and putting Armed Battalions and office staff on field duties. “But vigil, at par with the J&K border, is needed so that Punjab border should not remain a weak link in the internal security and safety of the State,” he said. 

Quoting the alerts received from the central agencies, Sukhbir said that alerts have mentioned that terrorist groups were trying to infiltrate in the Indian territory through the international border in Gurdaspur sector with the assistance of Pak agencies. He brought in the notice of Union Home Minister that density of deployment of BSF on the international border in Gurdaspur sector, which was adjoining J&K, has been less than half of that in J&K. “This situation has been there since the last few months and perhaps this could be one of the reasons for the recent infiltration of the Fidayeen group through the Gurdaspur sector,” he said. 

Sukhbir, also the State Home Minister, suggested that keeping the constraints of manpower in mind, the deployment of BSF could be strengthened in Gurdaspur sector from Paharpur to Thakurpur on priority basis and as and when, more manpower made available, strengthening of vigil from Thakurpur to Dera Baba Nanak could be done. 

“likewise, further deployment of BSF along rest of Punjab border would fulfil the ultimate objective of bringing required vigil to create tight check over infiltration,” he said. Sukhbir appealed the Union Home Minister to take immediate action in this regard as if once terrorists or Fidayeen groups managed to cross border, any amount of deployment in the state would be insufficient to prevent random strikes. 

“Punjab lost its four security personnel and three civilians in Dinanagar incident whereas more than 17 persons got injured,” he pointed. Describing that how serious this infiltration could be, Sukhbir said, “AK-56 rifles with armour piercing ammunition, grenades and a primed disposable rocket launcher were recovered from the three infiltrators who were engaged and killed by the Punjab police. Before their entry into the Dinanagar police station, the infiltrators had planted a series of IEDs on the railway track which could lead to major tragedy.”