Kartarpur corridor no security challenge, says BSF DG

BSF Director General Rajni Kant Mishra on Friday said the Kartarpur road corridor between India and Pakistan will not be a security challenge for the force as it has already been handling Wagah-Attari International Border (IB) that witnesses cross over of lots of people.

"As a border guarding force, we will handle the responsibilities we are given. Opening of Kartarpur corridor is not a challenge... This is not a difficult thing as we handle a large number of people who keep coming and going from Wagah-Attari border," he told the media during an annual conference of the Border Security Force (BSF).

The DG's assertion came in a reply to a question if the force would face a security challenge after the building of the corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the IB to facilitate Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur in Pakistan.

The foundation stones for developing the four-kilometre corridor on either side of the border were laid by India and Pakistan earlier this week.

Mishra said his force had given befitting reply to Pakistan after the killing of BSF head constable Narender Kumar in a Border Action Team (BAT) attack on a patrol party in September and that strategy will be adopted for all such attacks in the future.

"Befitting reply was given to our adversary," he said. "As we don't get information from the other side, it is very difficult to say how much damage exactly happened. I have entrusted the Additional Director General, Western Command to conduct an inquiry into the instances of sniping and BAT action in the last five years and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of incidents."

Queries over the number of terror camps operating from across the border, Mishra said: "It can't be divulged in public... We keep getting information about camps through various sources."

Talking about the freedom of BSF in taking tough decisions on border, he said: "The force don't need to ask anyone in critical situations. We have standing instruction to take decisions..." 

Over the functioning of pilot projects of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) in Jammu along the IB between India and Pakistan to track infiltration, Mishra said the BSF is satisfied with the results since its installation. 

"We are also acquiring all required world-class gadgets to complete the project. By this December or early next year, we will be able to come out with some effective measures."

The DG said the BSF is also constructing some unique bunkers with in-house mechanism so that the personnel can physically keep an eye on the border, respond as per the need and keep them protected at the same time. 

About the viral video released last year by BSF trooper Tej Bahadur Yadav complaining about the quality of food being served to soldiers, the DG said his force does not supply food to the place related to the incident.

"Our personnel are free to choose their own menu and they are helped in procuring their own ration. They are free to choose what to cook. After the controversy, we requested the DRDO to check the quality of our food. In DRDO findings showed 97 per cent satisfaction."

On the illegal Rohingya migration issue, Mishra said they are not a big issue for the force and that in course of monitoring, the BSF has intercepted 54 incoming and 176 outgoing movements of the community in one year. 

Asked whether the BSF report recently sent to the Centre relates to the increase in Muslim population near Jaisalmer border in Rajasthan, Mishra said: "There is no mention of any particular religion in the report. It's related to topography, irrigation, economic conditions and cultivation patterns in the area that include demography and sociology. It is a quarterly affair. We compile report and share it with sister agencies." - IANS