(FGR Bureau)
Shri U.K. Bansal, has infused new vitality in the BSF through his dynamism and farsightedness, under his dynamic leadership, The BSF has made rapid strides in diverse fields. An IPS officer of UP cadre took over as Director General, BSF on 1st November 2011 has rich and varied experience of police work.
Sh Bansal belongs to the 1974 batch of the Indian Police Servince (UP Cadre). Before joining BSF, Sh Bansal has served as Spl. DG (West) and ADG (East) in BSF, Regional Inspector General of Police in three Zones of Uttar Pradesh, Inspector General of Police, ITBP and at various posts in State Police including Additional Director General of Economic Offence Investigations.
Sh Bansal has been decorated with Police Medal for Meritorious Service and President Police Medal for Distinguished Service in the year 1995 and 2001 respectively.
Border Security Force (BSF): Sentinel of Peace & Security
The Border Security Force (BSF) is a premier paramilitary force of India, which was conceived on 01 December 1965 for maintaining security along the India’s land borders with Pakistan. Till 1965, prior to the inception of the BSF, India’s borders with Pakistan were manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet on 9 April 1965 in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialized centrally controlled Border Security Force, which would be armed and trained to man the International Border with Pakistan.
Assigned with the mandate of ensuring security of India’s borders and matters connected therewith, taska of the BSF can be divided into two categories – peace time tasks and war time tasks. The peace time tasks of the BSF inter alia include:
- To promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas;
- To prevent trans-border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India;
To prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity.
To prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity.In the last few years the BSF has, in addition to their duties, been deployed for counter insurgency and internal security duties
The war time tasks of the BSF inter alia include:
- Holding ground in less-threatened sectors;
- Protection of vital installations;
- Assistance in control of refugees;
- Anti-infiltration duties in specified areas.
The BSF, in its 47 years of existence, has emerged as an elite force of the country having excelled with distinction in the 1971 war with Pakistan. Its ethos is “Any task, anytime, anywhere” and the BSF has given blood and sweat to execute its motto “Duty unto Death”.
Dr Arvind Kumar, Editor, Focus Global Reporter, interviewed Shri UK Bansal, Director-General, BSF. Following are excerpts of this interview:
FGR: How and when BSF is formed? What is the role of the BSF in ensuring peace and security within the country?
Shri Bansal: On April 1965, Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch. Prior to that India’s borders with Pakistan were manned by State Armed Police Battalions. This attack exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to deal with external armed aggression. Hence a committee was set up by GOI to examine and recommend the most effective way of manning the entire Indo-Pak border. This committee formed a study group headed by Lt Gen Kumarmanglam, Vice Chief of Army staff which gave its report in April 1965. The then Home Secretary Sh L P Singh and General J N Chaudhury, the then COAS examined this report and prepared a scheme for the creation of a central force for guarding the borders.
As a result of the recommendations of this Committee, the Border Security Force came into existence on 01 Dec 1965, under the leadership of Shri K F Rustamji. Later, it was decided that in case of war the bulk of the BSF units should play a complementary role to the army. Thus the war time role for BSF was formulated which included holding ground in less threatened sectors, Protection of vital installations, assistance in the control of refugees, providing of Escorts and Anti-infiltration duties in specified areas.
It may be recalled that during the Kargil conflict in May-July 1999, the BSF remained deployed on Forward Defended Localities and did a commendable Job along with the Army.
Border Security Force is primarily mandated for ensuring the security of Borders of India (Indo-BD & Indo-Pak Borders) and for the matters connected therewith. However, on account of country’s internal security compulsions, BSF is extensively mobilized for counter insurgency/anti-naxal operations, law & order and elections duties. BSF to its credit has the experience of fighting militancies in Punjab, J&K and North Eastern states. Presently BSF is also deployed in Maoist infested areas in Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
FGR: Is BSF called upon to play role in rescue operations in Natural Disasters like earthquake, floods, tsunami etc.?
Shri Bansal: Yes, BSF is often called to assist State/ District administration in carrying out rescue/relief/response/post-disaster operations during natural & manmade calamities/disasters on regular basis. We have played imperative role in giving relief to people of J&K Earthquake, Bhuj Earthquake, and Tsunami at Andaman & Nicobar Islands etc. BSF has been instrumental in rising of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) by providing 03 number of NDRF battalions under NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) on the directions of Ministry of Home Affairs. These specialized battalions are stationed at Guwahiti, Kolkata and Bihata, Patna and can provide expert response during NBC (Nuclear Biological Chemical), Earthquake, Flood & all other kind of disasters.
FGR: What measures are being undertaken by the BSF to win the confidence and goodwill of the local populace, say, on the lines of Operation Sadhbhawna being undertaken by the Armed Forces in J&K and other border areas ?
Shri Bansal: Ministry of Home Affairs had been releasing funds to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for undertaking Civic Action Programme in North Eastern Region, other than North Eastern Region/J&K and Naxal Affected areas for welfare of border population. Civic Action Programmes is being taken in such a way that it acts as a bridge between the security forces and the local people as also meets a felt need of the area and its people. Programmes are undertaken normally in border areas, and in those remote and inaccessible areas of the State that are affected by militancy. It gives an impetus to the process of normalcy and presents a human face of the security forces in areas that are difficult to approach for ordinary civil agencies.
Allocations under Civic Action Programme are received every year by BSF from MHA for North Eastern Region and for Naxal Affected areas from the year 2010-2011. The grant so received is utilized to infuse confidence among the border populace for development of infra-structure and promote the feeling of national integration. Development of infra-structure in remote and backward areas of border belt will not only improve the socio-economic condition of the poor border population but will also bring them back to the mainstream.
Under the Civic Action Programme BSF is undertaking a number of activities in remote border villages/areas. This include construction of toilets, class rooms, water storage facilities, providing of furniture, computer, sport items lab facilities, even construction/repair of class room etc.
Apart from this BSF is also organizing tours of Jammu and Kashmiri children to various parts of the country. The main purpose of such visit is to expose the children of remote areas to the historical, cultural and technological profile of the country as also the development and progress the country has achieved. BSF is organizing such programmes since 1999. Till date, 1094 children from J & K have participated in the BSF sponsored 33 Bharat Darshan Tours.
FGR: What new challenges do you foresee for the BSF in near future?
Shri Bansal: The shifting Security Scenario on the Borders and within the country has brought manifold increase in commitments of BSF on the Borders and in the form of Internal Security Duties. Considering the fast changing modus operandi of hostile elements, BSF keeps reinventing its strategy to effectively discharge entrusted responsibilities and live up to the expectations of the people, as ever. The smuggling and infiltration trend on Western and Eastern International Borders has not been consistent over the years, thus compelling BSF to keep focused on an efficient form of Border Management.
