JAMMU , Dec 1: The Border Security Force (BSF) has completed the deployment of two fresh battalions, comprising more than 2,000 personnel, in the JAMMU region to better plug infiltration from across the Pakistan front and check the recent spurt of terrorist activities in the area.Officials in the security establishment said that the new troops of these units have been deployed “in depth areas” as the “second line of defence” just behind the BSF border deployment along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan.
These two BSF battalions were recently withdrawn from the anti-Naxal operations theatre of Odisha and have now been deployed fully in the Jammu region. This was a task to be accomplished before the onset of winters when securing the IB against infiltration from Pakistan becomes challenging, the sources said.
The personnel of the new units have been deployed around the Samba area, some other vulnerable patches in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and along the Punjab boundary that abuts Jammu, they said.
Multiple deployment points aided by CCTV cameras have also been created, the sources said.
The force guards more than 2,289 km of the International Boundary that runs along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat along India’s western flank. The Jammu region accounts for 485 km of this border interspersed with dense forests and mountainous terrain. About a dozen BSF battalions are deployed along the Jammu IB region.
Making logistical arrangements for the personnel of these two units is going on. Temporary and permanent bases and patrolling halts are being prepared, they said.
These two battalions were withdrawn in July-August from the Koraput and Malkangiri districts of Odisha where they were deployed for conducting anti-Naxal operations.
Security in the Jammu area came into focus following a series of terrorist attacks in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua and Doda districts this year that has killed more than 40 people, including 18 security personnel and Village Defence Guard (VDG) members.
A number of terrorists have also been killed by security forces in this region during 2024.
The Jammu area is characterised by cross-border tunnels, dense forests and mountainous terrain making it an ideal ground for terrorists to launch attacks against civilians and security forces.
Meanwhile, Additional Director General of BSF’s Western Command Satish S Khandare said in Chandigarh today that this year’s drone seizures along the International Border in Punjab have been the highest and added that the force is deploying anti-drone systems to neutralise illicit drones.
Pakistan is trying to “destabilise the security situation in the country” by sending armed militants into J&K, sending weapons and drugs into Punjab and Rajasthan, he said.
“As far as drone recovery is concerned, in the entire Western Command, we were able to recover 250 drones till now this year and this is the highest figure so far,” Khandare told a news conference here to mark the 60th Raising Day of the BSF.
A total of 242 drones were recovered in Punjab, six in Rajasthan and two in Jammu, he said.
From November 2023 to November 2024, BSF was involved in seizing 663 kg of narcotics, and 69 arms, apprehending 275 people — which include 227 Indians, 43 Pakistani and 5 Bangladeshi nationals — while six infiltrator/miscreants were killed on the border, the officer said.
“We are taking certain initiatives, new measures to strengthen our border security on Indo-Pakistan border. Like, I said drone is a major concern, so we are deploying anti-drone systems to neutralise illicit drones,” Khandare said, adding that a new design fence is being constructed to strengthen the anti-infiltration grid.
“The fence has become quite old, so a new design fence is being constructed to strengthen the anti-infiltration grid. We are using technology, especially all vulnerable patches are being manned by PTZ (Pan-tilt-zoom) cameras, CCTV cameras and there is command and control centre where all these vulnerable patches are monitored 24×7 by our people,” he said.
He said the BSF’s Western Command is responsible for guarding the International Border with Pakistan.
“We (BSF’s Western Command) have five frontiers, that is Kashmir, JAMMU , Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Along with that, there are three subsidiary training centres which are being supervised by the Western Command,” Khandare said.
“We are manning approximately 390 km of Line of Control and approximately 2,300 km of International Border. The primary role of the BSF is to guard the International Border,” he said, adding that the BSF is also called by various State Governments to maintain law and order during parliamentary and Assembly elections.
“In the recent past, BSF has proved its mettle in counter-insurgency operation of Jammu and Kashmir,” Khandare said, adding the force is also involved in the anti-Naxal operations that are conducted.
On challenges faced by the border force, Khandare said, “BSF troops are manning hilly and cold and icy patches of Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir where temperatures dip to minus 30 degrees. We also man the International Border in Gujarat and Rajasthan where in summer temperature rises up to 50 degrees Celsius. These are certain climatic difficulties which BSF has to face every day-in and day-out while doing their duty,” the senior officer said.
To neutralise drone threats, especially along the IB in Punjab, Khandare said the BSF is able “to jam the drone and recover the drone”.
“Apart from that, we have observed that drone activity happens in certain depth areas, behind the International Border, behind the fence. So, we have started deployment of BSF in the depth area along with the police.
“So, there are ‘nakas’, there is patrolling in the depth area so that all the movement (of people) going towards the border is monitored. The people who are coming to collect this contraband are intercepted, they are arrested. A lot of work has been done in this regard by BSF with the help of Punjab police,” he said, adding that the BSF is coordinating with the Army and other agencies for better technological solutions.
“The drone dropping area, depth area or dropping patch, to identify that and to mount surveillance, setting up ‘nakas’ and patrolling and better coordination with sister agencies, especially with intelligence agencies, and to conduct information-based operations, we are taking such steps,” he said.
Asked about the use of artificial Intelligence by BSF, he said, “We have used in some areas, like I said there are some vulnerable patches, at some places there is land, there are some riverine gaps, jungles, mountains, we have started the use of AI-based technology.
“All vulnerable patches are being monitored by a command centre, which is AI-enabled, it is 24×7. It is a work in progress. Some pilot projects are being run,” he said.
About J&K, he said, “We are basically manning the LoC, which is very difficult terrain, geography-wise, climate-wise. It is our endeavour to man that border so that we can foil all infiltration bids. As I said the neighbouring country is always in a process to destabilise the security environment in Kashmir.”
“We are inducting new technology in the border management on the LoC also which is coupled with AI-based cameras etc. We are taking care of the requirements of our troops at the border so that they are equipped well, they are trained well and they are able to perform their job professionally well,” Khandare said.
Om Prakash Upadhyay, IG, BSF (Operations) and Manoj Karki, DIG rank officer of the BSF were also present at the event.
