News Analysis India

Tag: Border Security Force

  • BSF intercepts four Pakistani drones, downs three along Punjab border in 24 hours

    By PTI

    JALANDHAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted four Pakistani drones and shot down three of them along the International Border in Punjab in four different incidents in over 24 hours, a spokesperson of the force said on Saturday.

    While three drones were intercepted by the BSF on Friday night, the fourth one was shot down on Saturday night.

    The first drone, a black quadcopter of “DJI Matrice 300 RTK” make, was recovered from Udhar Dhariwal village in Amritsar district, the spokesperson said.

    BSF troops intercepted this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by firing around 9 pm on Friday, he said.

    The second drone, a quadcopter of the same make, was recovered from Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar district after troops fired at it around 9.30 pm.

    Two packets attached to the drone containing 2.6 kg of suspected heroin were also recovered from the UAV that was found in Rattan Khurd village, the spokesperson added.

    A third drone was intercepted on Friday night along this front. However, it could not be recovered as it fell on the Pakistani side, he said.

    CCTV footage showed people collecting this third drone from the Pakistan side, the spokesperson said.

    The fourth drone “violated Indian airspace on Saturday night and was intercepted by firing in the jurisdiction of the Amritsar sector.”

    “The drone and a bag of suspected narcotics have been recovered,” the official said.

    JALANDHAR: The Border Security Force (BSF) intercepted four Pakistani drones and shot down three of them along the International Border in Punjab in four different incidents in over 24 hours, a spokesperson of the force said on Saturday.

    While three drones were intercepted by the BSF on Friday night, the fourth one was shot down on Saturday night.

    The first drone, a black quadcopter of “DJI Matrice 300 RTK” make, was recovered from Udhar Dhariwal village in Amritsar district, the spokesperson said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    BSF troops intercepted this unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by firing around 9 pm on Friday, he said.

    The second drone, a quadcopter of the same make, was recovered from Rattan Khurd village in Amritsar district after troops fired at it around 9.30 pm.

    Two packets attached to the drone containing 2.6 kg of suspected heroin were also recovered from the UAV that was found in Rattan Khurd village, the spokesperson added.

    A third drone was intercepted on Friday night along this front. However, it could not be recovered as it fell on the Pakistani side, he said.

    CCTV footage showed people collecting this third drone from the Pakistan side, the spokesperson said.

    The fourth drone “violated Indian airspace on Saturday night and was intercepted by firing in the jurisdiction of the Amritsar sector.”

    “The drone and a bag of suspected narcotics have been recovered,” the official said.

  • BSF women personnel to be part of camel contingent for Republic Day Parade 

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: For the first time a dozen women camel riders will be participating as part of the famed camel contingent of the Border Security Force (BSF) during the Republic Day Parade on January 26.

    The BSF on Monday said, “This is the first time BSF Mahila Camel Riders as part of BSF Camel Contingent will march on Kartavya Path during the Republic Day Parade.”

    Marching atop the camels, these women camel riders will be donning specially designed regal ceremonial uniforms.

    The uniforms which represent the many treasured craft forms of India have been assembled by a noted fashion designer who will have iconic Jodhpuri bandhgala, classic and elegant long tunic.

    The textured fabric with hand-crafted zardosi work for various trims from Benaras is done in the 400 years-old Danka technique, the BSF had said.

    The uniform is styled with the striking Pagh – a turban, inspired by the heritage Pagh of the Mewar region of Rajasthan.

    The BSF camel contingent has been participating in the Republic Day parade since 1976.

    The contingent usually comprises 90 camels — 54 with troops and the rest with band personnel.

    The Camel contingent is also part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony which is held three days after Republic Day on January 29.

    The BSF is the only force in the country to deploy camels for both operational and ceremonial duties.  .It is astride these camels that the bordermen, as the BSF personnel are called, patrol the Thar Desert along the borders with Pakistan.

    Out of total approx 240,000 personnel the BSF has around 8,000 women personnel including around 140 officers which include the subordinate officers also. The women, as per the sources, are deployed in all kinds of operational duties like the zero line patrolling and night observation post duties. The Force has also deployed all women floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) along the India Bangladesh borders under its water wing. The BSF also has an all women daredevil motorcycle team named Seema Bhawani.

    The BSF was raised on December 1, 1965 and it is primarily tasked with guarding international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a unique force in the world having the elements of aviation, artillery and water wing as its assets.

    NEW DELHI: For the first time a dozen women camel riders will be participating as part of the famed camel contingent of the Border Security Force (BSF) during the Republic Day Parade on January 26.

    The BSF on Monday said, “This is the first time BSF Mahila Camel Riders as part of BSF Camel Contingent will march on Kartavya Path during the Republic Day Parade.”

    Marching atop the camels, these women camel riders will be donning specially designed regal ceremonial uniforms.

    The uniforms which represent the many treasured craft forms of India have been assembled by a noted fashion designer who will have iconic Jodhpuri bandhgala, classic and elegant long tunic.

    The textured fabric with hand-crafted zardosi work for various trims from Benaras is done in the 400 years-old Danka technique, the BSF had said.

    The uniform is styled with the striking Pagh – a turban, inspired by the heritage Pagh of the Mewar region of Rajasthan.

    The BSF camel contingent has been participating in the Republic Day parade since 1976.

    The contingent usually comprises 90 camels — 54 with troops and the rest with band personnel.

    The Camel contingent is also part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony which is held three days after Republic Day on January 29.

    The BSF is the only force in the country to deploy camels for both operational and ceremonial duties.  .It is astride these camels that the bordermen, as the BSF personnel are called, patrol the Thar Desert along the borders with Pakistan.

    Out of total approx 240,000 personnel the BSF has around 8,000 women personnel including around 140 officers which include the subordinate officers also. The women, as per the sources, are deployed in all kinds of operational duties like the zero line patrolling and night observation post duties. The Force has also deployed all women floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) along the India Bangladesh borders under its water wing. The BSF also has an all women daredevil motorcycle team named Seema Bhawani.

    The BSF was raised on December 1, 1965 and it is primarily tasked with guarding international borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a unique force in the world having the elements of aviation, artillery and water wing as its assets.

  • Amit Shah meets Mamata one-to-one, land issues discussed

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Union Home minister Amit Shah met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee one-to-one on the sidelines of Eastern Zonal Council meeting on Saturday where issues like land for Border Security Force (BSF) outposts and railway projects and Bengal government’s dues from the Centre were discussed. The meeting between the two political heavyweights continued for 20 minutes before Shah left for Kolkata airport.

    In the Eastern Zonal Council meeting convened by Shah at Nbanna, the state secretariat, West Bengal CM, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and representatives from Odisha were present. Fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, cross-border smuggling and timely completion of the freight corridor were the agendas discussed in the meeting.

    The one-to-one meeting between Shah and Mamata said to be politically significant at a time when the Bengal government and the Centre were at loggerheads on several occasions over several issues ranging from alleged highhandedness of central agencies against Trinamool Congress leaders and better coordination between the state police and the BSF

    Suvendu Adhikari, BJP leader and the Leader of the Opposition, who came to the airport to see off Shah, said, ‘’I asked Shahji about his meeting the with CM. He told me that lands required for setting up of 72 BSF outposts along the West Bengal-Bangladesh border and better communication between the state police force and the BSF were discussed with her. The Union minister also said that he explained why the India-Bangladesh border is very important for national security.’’

    Adhikari said Shah called him for a meeting along with BJP’s state president in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss ‘’important issues’’.

    Sources at Nabanna said that mort important issue that Shah highlighted in the Council meeting was the fencing of the border between Bengal and Bangladesh. “Of the 2,216 km of the border, 1,638 km is already covered with wired fencing. The Centre is stressing on erecting barbed fencing along another 150 km at the earliest. The rest of the frontier cannot be fenced as the border runs through rivers or has technical problems like the existence of villages within 150 meters from the boundary.”

    The issue of cattle smuggling was also discussed in the council meeting.

    The ruling TMC is facing embarrassment on the issue of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh as the BJP never misses an opportunity to use it as a political tool, and the arrest of TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal by the CBI further pushed Mamata’s party on back foot.

    The council meeting continued for 1 hour 40 minutes from 11 am. After the meet, Mamata requested Shah to visit her chamber on the 14th floor of the state secretariat.

    KOLKATA: Union Home minister Amit Shah met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee one-to-one on the sidelines of Eastern Zonal Council meeting on Saturday where issues like land for Border Security Force (BSF) outposts and railway projects and Bengal government’s dues from the Centre were discussed. The meeting between the two political heavyweights continued for 20 minutes before Shah left for Kolkata airport.

    In the Eastern Zonal Council meeting convened by Shah at Nbanna, the state secretariat, West Bengal CM, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and representatives from Odisha were present. Fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, cross-border smuggling and timely completion of the freight corridor were the agendas discussed in the meeting.

    The one-to-one meeting between Shah and Mamata said to be politically significant at a time when the Bengal government and the Centre were at loggerheads on several occasions over several issues ranging from alleged highhandedness of central agencies against Trinamool Congress leaders and better coordination between the state police and the BSF

    Suvendu Adhikari, BJP leader and the Leader of the Opposition, who came to the airport to see off Shah, said, ‘’I asked Shahji about his meeting the with CM. He told me that lands required for setting up of 72 BSF outposts along the West Bengal-Bangladesh border and better communication between the state police force and the BSF were discussed with her. The Union minister also said that he explained why the India-Bangladesh border is very important for national security.’’

    Adhikari said Shah called him for a meeting along with BJP’s state president in Delhi on Tuesday to discuss ‘’important issues’’.

    Sources at Nabanna said that mort important issue that Shah highlighted in the Council meeting was the fencing of the border between Bengal and Bangladesh. “Of the 2,216 km of the border, 1,638 km is already covered with wired fencing. The Centre is stressing on erecting barbed fencing along another 150 km at the earliest. The rest of the frontier cannot be fenced as the border runs through rivers or has technical problems like the existence of villages within 150 meters from the boundary.”

    The issue of cattle smuggling was also discussed in the council meeting.

    The ruling TMC is facing embarrassment on the issue of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh as the BJP never misses an opportunity to use it as a political tool, and the arrest of TMC strongman Anubrata Mondal by the CBI further pushed Mamata’s party on back foot.

    The council meeting continued for 1 hour 40 minutes from 11 am. After the meet, Mamata requested Shah to visit her chamber on the 14th floor of the state secretariat.

  • Drone with 3 kg heroin seized near India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran 

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: A drone along with three kg of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a top officer of the state police said on Sunday. 

    The recovery was made in a joint operation of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force.

    “Carrying on the special drive against trans-border smuggling networks, Tarn Taran Police and BSF, in a joint operation have recovered a quadcopter drone with 3 kg heroin during a search in an area of PS Valtoha, Tarn Taran,” said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

    This comes a day after the Border Security Force recovered about 25 kg of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka district.

    On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a drone was found from a field near the India-Pakistan border in the Tarn Taran district along with over 5 kg of heroin, police had said.

    On Monday, two Pakistani drones, carrying around 10 kg of heroin, were gunned down by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

    On Wednesday, a broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra in Tarn Taran.

    CHANDIGARH: A drone along with three kg of heroin was recovered near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, a top officer of the state police said on Sunday. 

    The recovery was made in a joint operation of the Punjab Police and the Border Security Force.

    “Carrying on the special drive against trans-border smuggling networks, Tarn Taran Police and BSF, in a joint operation have recovered a quadcopter drone with 3 kg heroin during a search in an area of PS Valtoha, Tarn Taran,” said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

    This comes a day after the Border Security Force recovered about 25 kg of heroin, which was airdropped by a Pakistani drone in the Fazilka district.

    On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a drone was found from a field near the India-Pakistan border in the Tarn Taran district along with over 5 kg of heroin, police had said.

    On Monday, two Pakistani drones, carrying around 10 kg of heroin, were gunned down by the BSF along the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

    On Wednesday, a broken quadcopter drone was recovered from the area of village Van Tara Singh in Khalra in Tarn Taran.

  • International Border in Jammu frontier incident free, safe: BSF IG

    Drone activity has also largely decreased in Jammu and the majority of weapons and other materials dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles have also been recovered, said BSF Inspector General.

  • Pak drone spotted close to international border in Punjab, returns after BSF troops open fire 

    By PTI

    FEROZEPUR: A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday.

    The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said.

    The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said.

    A search operation is underway, they said.

    On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector.

    The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.  

    FEROZEPUR: A drone from Pakistan was spotted close to the international border here, said officials on Saturday.

    The unmanned aerial vehicle flew back to Pakistan after the Border Security Force troops fired at it, they said.

    The BSF personnel fired at least 18 rounds towards the drone, they said.

    A search operation is underway, they said.

    On the night of October 27, the BSF had recovered a huge cache of firearms and ammunition in the Ferozepur sector.

    The BSF troops had recovered a bag along the Indo-Pakistan border and had found six AK-47 assault rifles, three pistols and 200 live rounds from it.  

  • Pakistani civilian attempting to cross international border in Rajasthan shot dead by BSF 

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: A Pakistani civilian allegedly trying to enter Indian territory was killed by Border Security Force personnel in Anupgarh sector of Sriganganagar district here, police said.

    On Friday night, Border Security Force personnel patrolling the area saw a Pakistani civilian trying to enter the Indian side.

    When he did not stop despite being alerted by the jawans, they opened fire, Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Anand Sharma said.

    A case has been registered at Anupgarh police station and the body kept in a mortuary.

    The police said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained and added that nothing was found from him.

    JAIPUR: A Pakistani civilian allegedly trying to enter Indian territory was killed by Border Security Force personnel in Anupgarh sector of Sriganganagar district here, police said.

    On Friday night, Border Security Force personnel patrolling the area saw a Pakistani civilian trying to enter the Indian side.

    When he did not stop despite being alerted by the jawans, they opened fire, Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Anand Sharma said.

    A case has been registered at Anupgarh police station and the body kept in a mortuary.

    The police said the identity of the deceased could not be ascertained and added that nothing was found from him.

  • Drone activity along India-Pak border in Punjab poses challenge for security agencies: Officials

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Movement of drones for airdropping drugs, arms and ammunition continues to pose a challenge for security agencies with over 150 such activities noticed this year so far at several points along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, said officials.

    They said the use of drones for the smuggling narcotics, arms and ammunition first came to notice in 2019 in Punjab.

    The Border Security Force, which is guarding the 553 km stretch of border with Pakistan, has this year shot down 10 drones–three in the last week–besides thwarting intrusion of many unmanned aerial vehicles, the officials said.

    “More than 150 drone activities have been spotted so far,” said a senior official of the BSF (Punjab Frontier).

    One drone was shot down near the Shahpur border outpost in Amritsar on October 14, two were gunned down on October 16 and 17 in the Amritsar sector, said the officials.

    The officials said smugglers backed by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI are using sophisticated and high-end Chinese drones, with minimum sound and capable of flying at higher level.

    A drone which was shot down on October 14 was a quadcopter (DJI Matrice) and a holding and releasing mechanism also found with this drone.

    Most drone activities have been concentrated in areas along the international border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, said the officials.

    However, drone movements have also been spotted in Ferozepur and Gurdaspur areas, they added.

    The BSF had coordinated with the Punjab Police in busting a gang involved in smuggling of narcotics and weapons from across the border in Tarn Taran area this year, said the senior BSF official.

    Last month, the BSF had decided to shoot Indian smugglers who come to collect narcotics and weapons, smuggled from Pakistan, near the international border.

    “If a smuggler comes to receive the consignment or attacks, the law permits us to fire at the smuggler,” said the BSF official.

    The BSF has also decided to reward its personnel who gun down a drone sneaking into Indian territory.

    In April this year, the BSF had announced to give Rs 1 lakh reward to a person who provides information leading to the arrest of persons using drones for smuggling of narcotics, arms and ammunition from Pakistan.

    CHANDIGARH: Movement of drones for airdropping drugs, arms and ammunition continues to pose a challenge for security agencies with over 150 such activities noticed this year so far at several points along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, said officials.

    They said the use of drones for the smuggling narcotics, arms and ammunition first came to notice in 2019 in Punjab.

    The Border Security Force, which is guarding the 553 km stretch of border with Pakistan, has this year shot down 10 drones–three in the last week–besides thwarting intrusion of many unmanned aerial vehicles, the officials said.

    “More than 150 drone activities have been spotted so far,” said a senior official of the BSF (Punjab Frontier).

    One drone was shot down near the Shahpur border outpost in Amritsar on October 14, two were gunned down on October 16 and 17 in the Amritsar sector, said the officials.

    The officials said smugglers backed by Pakistan’s spy agency ISI are using sophisticated and high-end Chinese drones, with minimum sound and capable of flying at higher level.

    A drone which was shot down on October 14 was a quadcopter (DJI Matrice) and a holding and releasing mechanism also found with this drone.

    Most drone activities have been concentrated in areas along the international border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, said the officials.

    However, drone movements have also been spotted in Ferozepur and Gurdaspur areas, they added.

    The BSF had coordinated with the Punjab Police in busting a gang involved in smuggling of narcotics and weapons from across the border in Tarn Taran area this year, said the senior BSF official.

    Last month, the BSF had decided to shoot Indian smugglers who come to collect narcotics and weapons, smuggled from Pakistan, near the international border.

    “If a smuggler comes to receive the consignment or attacks, the law permits us to fire at the smuggler,” said the BSF official.

    The BSF has also decided to reward its personnel who gun down a drone sneaking into Indian territory.

    In April this year, the BSF had announced to give Rs 1 lakh reward to a person who provides information leading to the arrest of persons using drones for smuggling of narcotics, arms and ammunition from Pakistan.

  • BSF shoots down second drone in three days along Pak border in Punjab 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI/ AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force shot down a quad-copter drone on Sunday night along the India-Pakistan international border in the Amritsar region, officials said.

    This is the second such incident in the last three days at this frontier.

    The drone weighing 12 kg had four propellers, intercepted and shot around 9.15 pm near the Rania border post in Amritsar sector by the troops of the 22nd Battalion of the BSF, they said.

    Some consignment that was loaded and being ferried by the drone was also recovered.

    More details are awaited, a BSF spokesperson said.

    In a similar incident that took place on the intervening night of October 13-14 the BSF shot down a large (quad copter) Pakistani drone in the Gurdaspur sector of Punjab.

    NEW DELHI/ AMRITSAR: The Border Security Force shot down a quad-copter drone on Sunday night along the India-Pakistan international border in the Amritsar region, officials said.

    This is the second such incident in the last three days at this frontier.

    The drone weighing 12 kg had four propellers, intercepted and shot around 9.15 pm near the Rania border post in Amritsar sector by the troops of the 22nd Battalion of the BSF, they said.

    Some consignment that was loaded and being ferried by the drone was also recovered.

    More details are awaited, a BSF spokesperson said.

    In a similar incident that took place on the intervening night of October 13-14 the BSF shot down a large (quad copter) Pakistani drone in the Gurdaspur sector of Punjab.

  • Two Pakistani fishermen apprehended by BSF off Gujarat coast

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Border Security Force has apprehended two Pakistani fishermen from a creek area near the India-Pakistan border off the Kutch district coast in Gujarat, the BSF said on Tuesday.

    The Air Force Station at Nalia in the district which continuously monitors the situation noticed a movement of six fishing boats along with fishermen in the general area of Harami Nala using an unmanned aerial vehicle at 11.40 am on Monday.

    It alerted about the movement to the Bhuj BSF which immediately launched a special operation in the area, the BSF said in a statement.

    “The Bhuj BSF immediately launched a special operation in the Harami Nala area spread over 900 sq km. So far, the BSF troops have apprehended two Pakistani fishermen and the operation is in progress,” it said.

    The fishermen have been identified as Yasin Sheikh (35) and Mohammad Sheikh (25), both residents of a village near the Zero Point area in Sujawal district of Pakistan, the BSF said.

    The BSF had on August 5 apprehended a Pakistani fisherman and seized five boats from the same area.

    While Indian fishermen are barred from entering the creek due to security reasons, those from Pakistan many a time enter the Indian waters in search of a better catch.

    AHMEDABAD: The Border Security Force has apprehended two Pakistani fishermen from a creek area near the India-Pakistan border off the Kutch district coast in Gujarat, the BSF said on Tuesday.

    The Air Force Station at Nalia in the district which continuously monitors the situation noticed a movement of six fishing boats along with fishermen in the general area of Harami Nala using an unmanned aerial vehicle at 11.40 am on Monday.

    It alerted about the movement to the Bhuj BSF which immediately launched a special operation in the area, the BSF said in a statement.

    “The Bhuj BSF immediately launched a special operation in the Harami Nala area spread over 900 sq km. So far, the BSF troops have apprehended two Pakistani fishermen and the operation is in progress,” it said.

    The fishermen have been identified as Yasin Sheikh (35) and Mohammad Sheikh (25), both residents of a village near the Zero Point area in Sujawal district of Pakistan, the BSF said.

    The BSF had on August 5 apprehended a Pakistani fisherman and seized five boats from the same area.

    While Indian fishermen are barred from entering the creek due to security reasons, those from Pakistan many a time enter the Indian waters in search of a better catch.