Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 22: The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reassured the people that the country’s borders, particularly with Pakistan and Bangladesh would be developed under a complete “Smart Border Model” to ensure that there were no “unnatural demographic changes in the country.”
Speaking at the Rustamji Memorial Lecture held in honour of the founding director of the Border Security Force (BSF) KF Rustamji, Mr Shah said India was rapidly adopting technology-based systems to enhance border security. According to him, advanced border infrastructure was being prepared along the frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh, including high-tech cameras, radars, sensors, surveillance tools and real-time monitoring platforms.
Stressing that the Centre has decided to not only stop infiltration but expel each infiltrator to prevent demographic changes in the border areas, Mr Shah said a Smart Border concept would be unveiled soon, which will make the entire Pakistan and Bangladesh borders “impregnable.” The project equipped with drones, radars, cameras, and other technical resources will plug the gaps in border security.
The government, he said, aimed to roll out large-scale smart fencing and Integrated Border Management Systems along both international borders within this year. With the BJP coming to power in West Bengal, the Home Minister said the land allocation was progressing swiftly. He added that the West Bengal government has provided the required land for the project.
Mr Shah said the new setup would allow immediate detection of infiltration attempts, drone activities, cattle smuggling, drug trafficking and any suspicious movements. He added that security agencies would receive real-time alerts, strengthening border protection more effectively than before.
Issuing a firm message on cross-border threats, he added, “India has responded strongly to terror and infiltration every time. We replied to Pakistan all three times and if required, we will act even inside their territory.”
The Home Minister announced that the BSF would now be entrusted with bigger responsibilities. He said BSF would work closely with the local administration to curb illegal cross-border activities and be in regular contact with local revenue officials, police and district administration to identify illegal migrants and look at border security as “territorial responsibility.”
“The BSF has to stop this conspiracy to bring demographic changes in the country. Tripura, West Bengal and Assam have governments now who are convinced that there should be no infiltration. Border personnel should have a dialogue with patwari, district magistrate to identify the infiltration routes and cow smuggling routes, all the routes should be identified and stopped by BSF,” Mr Shah said.
Coordination would be strengthened from patwari-level offices to district administration, especially along the India-Bangladesh border. Shah added that BSF would not just stop or push back infiltrators but would work towards eliminating illegal entry attempts from the root.
Mr Shah said the central and state governments were working together to deepen border security in areas along Assam, Tripura and West Bengal. He added that BSF was receiving full administrative support for smart border projects and fencing works. In West Bengal, land allocation is almost complete and the allotted land has already been handed over to the BSF. The government has made it clear that if any obstacle arises in border security projects, the administration would stand firmly with the BSF.
The Minister also said a high-powered demography mission would be announced soon which would identify the infiltration routes and provide the information to the BSF.
“In the coming days, the role of the BSF is going to increase even further. Now, we cannot secure the borders using traditional methods. We will have to strengthen the security grid by working together with State police forces, armed forces, other paramilitary forces, Narcotics Control Bureau, intelligence agencies, and the State police,” the Minister noted.
The BSF D-G Praveen Kumar said in the past one year more than 300 drones were shot down by the BSF.
