M A I N   N E W S

BSF to guard border with Myanmar
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 29
As the BSF gets ready to take on the onus of guarding the India-Myanmar border, it plans to spend heavily on defences for not merely this border, but also for the Indo-Pak and the Indo-Bangladesh borders, which it guards.

This was stated by BSF’s Director General Subhash Joshi during a press conference here today.

He said he would lead a BSF delegation to Lahore next month for a bi-annual DG-level meeting with Pakistan Rangers. The recent infiltration attempts and ceasefire violations along the Indo-Pak border would be discussed during the meeting.

The DG said the elections in Bangladesh in January might create a volatile situation along the Indo-Bangladesh border. “We will have to be more careful. We will have to be alert to stop illegal migration and prevent unwanted elements from crossing the border,” he said.

On the India-Myanmar border, he said, “We have recently been informed of the decision that the India-Myanmar border will be guarded by the BSF.”

Joshi said the government had approved a five-year modernisation plan for the BSF worth Rs 4,570 crores. Under the plan, BSF’s air wing, transport facilities and communication equipment would be strengthened. The DG explained that the force would procure eight Mi-17 helicopters by the end of the next year.

“We are examining the situation on the India-Myanmar border. On the basis of the examination, we will make a proposal and send it to the Ministry of Home Affairs. It will then be sent it to the Cabinet Committee on Security. After that, the modalities will be chalked out,” said the DG. The government had also sanctioned an infrastructure plan for the BSF.