‘Motive to ensure zero infiltration in Jammu’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 13: IG BSF Frontiers D K Boora today said drone activities from Pakistan have dropped to almost zero after the deployment of an anti-drone system along the Jammu border.
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He said India is not the same when the country had old-fashioned weapons. It evolved to adopt new technology and advanced weapons, he added.
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Besides the heavy deployment of manpower, the technical surveillance is present on the entire border across Jammu region and it is being further expanded to other places in the country, Boora told a press conference at the BSF Headquarters.
He said the sector has a sensitive border which is being monitored round-the-clock by boots-on-ground (manpower) and technological advancement with focus to ensure no infiltration from across the border.
“The (drone) activities from across the border have come down and the exact reason for it is known to them (Pakistan) only. However, since we have upgraded our (anti-drone) systems on the borders, this problem (drone incursions) has dropped to almost zero in Jammu which proves that our technology is successful,” the BSF officer said.
He said technology is evolving in every field all across the world.
“It is obvious that the terror groups will use it and so our agencies like police, Army and BSF will try it as well. So this is a general process that the type of technology that is available, it is available for everyone and everyone uses it. And the technology that is available, its counter is also available at the same time,” the BSF officer said, referring to drone and counter-drone gadgets.
He said if there is any upgradation of technology in Pakistan, the Indian forces are also getting a new version. In fact, India is ahead of its opponents, he added.
“It happens everywhere… there is no need to worry about it because this upgrade is a normal process. If any new thing is available, then it is available for us too. So we use it.
“And I assure you that our government and the forces do not leave any such shortage in upgradation that we are left behind of those who work against us,” Boora said, responding to a question on the steps taken to counter terrorists using advanced weapons.
He said the Jammu border comes under the most sensitive border in the country and “our soldiers and officers do a very difficult duty here”.
“And in doing this work, the BSF has also achieved great success. For this, I would like to congratulate all the people working under my command,” Boora said.
Asked about the threat posed by the use of US-made M4 carbines by terrorists, the senior police officer said there is no specific threat as all weapons are the same.
“There is hype about the foreign-made carbine even though it does not do anything different. It has the same system as other weapons… magazines, bullets and a trigger.
“Today, India is not the same as it was when we had old-fashioned weapons. Now we have new technology, new India-made weapons which are very good,” he said.
About the new technology and weapons inducted by BSF in the recent past, Boora said it is not right to divulge the details in the public domain.
“I can assure you that the BSF has the latest technology and latest weapons. And whatever technology is upgraded, we immediately invest in it.
And we get full support and money from the government. So we are much ahead in that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Boora said the BSF has deployed manpower and is also taking technical assistance for a round-the-clock surveillance to ensure zero infiltration from across the border.
He said additional troops were recently deployed to strengthen the border grid as “we cannot take any chance” with the country’s most sensitive frontiers.
He said that two Pakistani intruders were shot dead and as many other were captured during the year, signifying infiltration has been brought down significantly. He said the force also seized about 7.6 kgs of narcotics on the International Border and hinterland during the year.
Responding to a question about an encounter in Kathua district in September resulting in the killing of two Pakistani terrorists believed to have infiltrated from across the border, he said, “First, nobody had told us about it (the route taken by terrorists to enter J&K). And secondly, if there is no information then it is correct that there has been no infiltration from across the border.”
He said whoever tried to come into this side was either killed or captured by the Border Security Force (BSF).
On the challenges in guarding the border during winters, he said this is not something new and “we know how to respond to foggy conditions”.
“Adequate measures have already been put in place,” he said, dismissing a reporter’s suggestion that there is additional pressure on the forces guarding the border.
“It is assumed that there is snowfall but I have not seen snow (on the borders) anywhere in the entire Jammu sector,” he said.
Snowfall would pose a challenge whenever it happens, he said. “But as far as border security is concerned, there is no new thing happening this year. We know how to work in foggy conditions, and what gadgets and tactics to be utilised. The borders will be kept safe.”
Asked about possible attempts by terrorists present at the launching pads across the border to enter India, he said infiltration attempts are nothing new.
“How many terrorists are sitting across the border is nothing to do with us. We don’t make a count of them because our motive and resolve is to ensure that not a single terrorist or intruder is able to enter into our side,” he said.
The officer said the only challenge the BSF faces is to maintain the sanctity of the border and not allow any infiltration.
“We work on the principle that there should not be even a single infiltration in the entire year. I think we are capable of doing that,” he said.
As far as training camps for terrorists across the border are concerned, he said it hardly matters for the force which has adequate resources and is fully capable of dealing with them when they try to enter into this side.
Ruling out a possibility of any unidentified person roaming near the border without the knowledge of security agencies, Boora said there was no presence of illegally settled Rohingya immigrants near the International Border in Jammu sector.
He said Jammu border has always been sensitive and “we keep a close watch on the situation, irrespective of what happens in Bangladesh or elsewhere”.
“We do not have any information about Rohingyas living near the IB (in Jammu). The entire border is under strict surveillance of BSF and other agencies, while border police also play an important role in the hinterland,” the officer told reporters at a press conference here.
He was responding to a question about any presence of Rohingya near the IB or any attempt by any member of the community or illegally settled Bangladeshi immigrants attempting to cross over to Pakistan.
“No, there is no such incident on this border (when any Rohingya or Bangladeshi attempted to cross over to the other side of the IB),” he said.
Asked about the threat posed by the presence of a large number of unidentified labourers, the BSF officer said “you may feel that their verification has not been done but the reality is otherwise”.
“The secret services or the police continue to do that work and the people hiring them for work have to report to the police and get their verification done. So, there is no such situation that unidentified people are roaming on the border and no one knows about it,” he said.
He refused to comment on the situation along the Bangladesh border and said, “We have no direct role in its security…as far as the Jammu border is concerned, it has always been sensitive irrespective of what happens in Bangladesh or elsewhere. And keeping that in mind, we keep a close watch and increase over deployment as per the requirement.”
The BSF officer said there was no instance reported anywhere in Jammu when any person posing as insane crossed into this side from Pakistan and returned back.
“As far as drug smuggling is concerned, the police and all other security agencies are working hard to counter the menace and have managed to control it,” he said.
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