The Union government has amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 kms stretch, instead of the existing 15 kms, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

The Union home ministry issued a notification in this context amending a July 2014 notification enabling provision for the BSF personnel and officers while they operate in the border areas.

The BSF, with about 2.65-lakh personnel, guards over 6,300 km of Indian fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Key points:

• In Gujarat, which shares border with Pakistan, the same limit has been reduced from 80 kms to 50 kms while in Rajasthan the limit has been kept unchanged at 50 kms.

• Rajasthan and Punjab also share fronts with Pakistan while Assam has an international border with Bangladesh.

• The notification will allow the force to execute the powers of search, seizure and arrest for the purpose of prevention of any offence punishable under the Passport Act, the Registration of Foreigners Act, the Central Excises and Salt Act, the Foreigners Act, the Foreign Exchange Management Act, the Customs Act or of any cognisable offence punishable under any other Central Act.

• The new amendment in the BSF Act will also allow the force to apprehend any person who has committed offences under these laws. 

• The BSF personnel will continue to invoke these powers in the “whole of the area” in the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya and Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. 

• Opposition parties including the Congress and the TMC flayed the Centre’s decision alleging it was a design to dilute federalism and an “infringement” on the rights of the state.

• The BJP defended the move, saying it was taken in national interest and aimed at checking smuggling of drugs, arms and cows. 

Border Security Force

• International borders of India with Pakistan, both east and west, were being manned by the respective state police forces till Indo-Pak war in September 1965.

• Certain inherent shortcomings of this arrangement came to light during the war and it was decided to have one single force under the Union of India for guarding the international borders with Pakistan.

• The Border Security Force was raised in 1965 with 25 battalions. Over the years, the Force has grown in size and has 186 battalions including three NDRF battalions, five major training institutions, 11 subsidiary training centres and three minor training institutions.

• The headquarters of BSF is in New Delhi.

• Its field formations include two Special Directorates General — Spl DG (Eastern Command) and Spl DG (Western Command), 13 Frontiers and 46 sector headquarters, water wing, air wing and other ancillary units.

BSF’s role during peace time:

1) To promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas.

2) To prevent trans-border crimes, unauthorised entry into or exit from the territory of India.

3) To prevent smuggling and any other illegal activities on the border.

4) Anti-infiltraton duties.

5) To collect trans-border intelligence. 

Its role during war time:

1) Holding ground in assigned sectors.

2) Limited aggressive action against paramilitary or irregular forces of the enemy.

3) Maintenance of law and order in enemy territory administered under the Army’s  control.

4) Guarding prisoners of war camps.

5) Acting as guides to the Army in border areas.

6) Assistance in control of refugees.

7) Provision of sectors.

8) Performing special tasks connected with Intelligence including raids.

What is CAPF?

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to the common nomenclature of seven security forces. It is under administrative control of the home ministry. The CAPF consists of Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Assam Rifles (AR) and National Security Guard (NSG).

The CAPF plays a vital role in guarding borders and assisting central / state governments in maintenance of internal security and in curbing other illegal / unlawful activities.

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