New Delhi: The jurisdiction of BSF was extended to empower the force for discharging it’s border guarding duties in wake of drones being used for smuggling, Home Ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
“Extension in territorial jurisdiction of BSF in some States is aimed at empowering BSF to discharge its border guarding duties more effectively in the wake of use of technology like Dynamic Remotely Operated Navigation Equipment (Drones), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAVs), etc generally having long range, by anti-national forces for surveillance as well as for smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes,” Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the House in a written reply.
“It would also help in curbing the menace of cattle smuggling as smugglers take refuge in the interior areas outside the jurisdiction of BSF,” he said. The reply added that the notifications have been laid on the table of the Lok Sabha on November 30, and would be laid on the table of the Rajya Sabha soon.
Home Ministry in October extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) up to 50 km inside the international borders in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
Earlier, the jurisdiction was till 15 kms inside the border. While Assam government welcomed the decision, governments of Punjab and West Bengal have raised objections.
