The Union home ministry’s recent order to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Forces (BSF) has, expectedly, caused uproar. Obviously, the states ruled by opposition parties as expected and as has been the norm resented this and accused the center to undermine India’s federal structure.
However, before we dwell into the advantages and disadvantages of this step, we need to learn what might have led to this and seek some answers;
- Post Capture of Afghanistan by Pakistan using its proxy Taliban the serious threats of cross-border infiltration from Pakistan has increased.
Que. So, the question is how enhancement in area of jurisdiction would help improve the efficiency, if its powers remain the same.
2.The use of Drones by Pak based terror organizations to drop weapons, explosives and drugs inside India territory has increased. These drones are used in border areas to drop the cargo close to the border.
Que. In that case once again how is this new amendment going to help BSF when its powers remain the same.
3.Different border states had different areas of jurisdiction under BSF for eg Earlier, the limit was fixed to 80 km in case of Gujarat and 15 km in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. While the limit has now been increased to 50 km in Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam and it has been reduced from 80 km to 50 km in Gujarat. This was leading to operational problems for BSF because of the non uniformity. The current amendment THEREFORE establishes uniformity in defining the area within which BSF can operate.
Que. But the question arises that the settlements in Gujarat, Rajasthan because of the inhospitable terrain are quite far off from the border areas and deploying Police in these areas is not feasible whereas in Punjab and West Bengal barring a few places the human settlements are very close to the border so the Police is always available take care of crimes related to drugs, illegal immigration etc. Will it not lead to conflicts and blame game between the local Police and local populace on one side and BSF on the other.
4.As some of these border states are sensitive in view of the increase in infiltration, illegal immigration and drug trafficking this limited area was creating operational problems for the BSF which was mainly responsible to guard the Borders. All that the infiltrators got to do was cross 15km border belt enter the jurisdiction of local Police, and get lost in the milieu. The old limits might be helpul to the local criminals as well as local petty politicians who might be hand in glove with the criminals.
Que. However, if the powers remain the same and the seized goods/contraband and people arrested have to be handed over to the local Police and it is the LOCAL POLICE that has to do the rest of the investigation, in that case what difference would the increase in the area of jurisdiction make ?
Moreover, In the 203rd report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs titled ‘Border Security: Capacity Building and Institutions’ that was presented to the Rajya Sabha in 2017, the Committee had discussed the issue of smuggling, illegal immigration along the India-Bangladesh Border(IBB)in detail.
When the Committee asked the primary reasons for cattle smuggling along IBB, the ministry replied that the following factors are responsible:
(i) There are nearly 300 villages within 150 yards of the International Boundary.
(ii) The cattle seized by the BSF are handed over to the Customs authorities who dispose them of by auction and very often the cattle so auctioned are bought back by the smugglers.
(iii) A section of local population in the border districts is deeply involved in smuggling.
The MHA made no mention that the BSF was finding it difficult to handle these problems because of inadequate width of the border belt and secondly if the BSF has been unable to tackle cross-border smuggling in Assam within 15 kilometres, how will it now be able to manage with enhanced area of jurisdiction ; 50 kilometres?
In view of the above, although the Govt claims that this amendment or enhancement of area of jurisdiction will help BSF improving its operational efficiency but operational efficiency is a very subjective aspect. Efficiency of an organization is impacted by the equipment it holds, the quality of leadership, the training standards and organizational restructuring.
Increasing the area of jurisdiction will only increase Responsibility and its operational efficiency will increase only when it is given better equipment, its leadership issues are resolved. None has answered as to how increase in area of jurisdiction will enhance the operational efficency of BSF.
Thus the Govt and we as ordinary citizens need to look into following aspects;
- Will it not pitch BSF and Local Police against each other as the human settlements in all these states are now very close to the border.
- Will the disputes or conflicts between Local Police and Central force BSF lead to politicization and increase tensions between Center and State.
- Will it not become difficult for the Central Govt agencies to operate in such states, for instance ;
Calcutta Police manhandled CBI officials and stopped them to investigate the Sarda scam witness.
Mumbai Police did not cooperate with the CBI officials during the investigation of SSR’s death.
Local Politicians are now threatening NBC officials investigating Aryan Khan’s case.
4.Will it not lead to Politicisation of BSF as it has happened with other Govt agencies?
In a country like India, undeniably the Center needs to be strong but things may turn ugly when Center –State relations are not handled with due care, particularly when Border states are involved and if the two get on to a war path its only the inimical forces which will benefit.
Hence, the center in order to enhance the operational efficiency of BSF must have addressed real challenges BSF is facing. The Govt as a matter of fact in the guise of reforms preferred to take the easy approach. It has avoided to touch the leadership issue of BSF whose senior positions are filled with IPS officers who neither have the training nor the knowledge of the terrain where they are expected to command. The Govt should have thought of Police Reforms instead, a strong Police would complement BSF in this belt and a Politicised Police would play the role of a spoil sport.