Latest news with #BOPs
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF gets 5k body cameras, biometrics capturing devices for Bangladesh border
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel More than 5,000 body-worn cameras are being provided to Border Security Force troops guarding the India-Bangladesh international border as part of a measure to record visuals and evidence of deporting illegal Bangladeshis apart from instances of criminals attacking the personnel on sources in the security establishment told PTI that a select number of border outposts (BOPs) of the force along the 4,096 kms front are also being equipped with gadgets to capture biometrics like finger prints and iris (eyes) scan of illegal Bangladeshis for sharing this data to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO).The two policy decisions to bolster BSF capabilities at this front have been taken in the wake of the stepped up security arrangements along the border following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh on August 5, sources said the Union home ministry recently approved these two proposals of the BSF headquarters following a "comprehensive review" of the security situation along the Bangladesh 5,000 body-worn cameras are being sent in two batches to BSF troops guarding the India-Bangladesh international border. These cameras are night-vision enabled and can record about 12-14 hours of footage, the sources cameras will be helpful in recording the facts and evidence when BSF troops deport illegal Bangladeshis or engage with miscreants to stop cross-border crimes like drugs, cattle and fake Indian currency notes (FICN) smuggling apart from human trafficking and infiltration, they recordings will also act as evidence in cases where BSF troops are attacked by criminals from both the countries, the sources and its force Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been claiming at bilateral forums that their nationals are being killed by the Indian side using extraordinary force and in an unjustified manner while the BSF has always maintained it opens non-lethal or lethal fire as a last resort to save the life of the troopers, the sources instances will be recorded now by these body-worn cameras and act as proof when required for an investigation, they sources said some select and "vulnerable" BSF BOPs from the point of view of cross-border infiltration are also being installed with biometrics data recording machines that will capture the fingerprints and eye scans of illegal Bangladeshis caught by the BSF on this biometric data will be shared with the FRO to create an evidence-based database against infiltrators and illegal Bangladeshis trying to sneak into India, they Union home ministry, post the Pahalgam terror attack, has asked all states to check and deport illegal Bangladeshis living in their per official data, the BSF, till July 15 this year, has apprehended 1,372 Bangladeshis infiltrating into India from this front while it caught or was handed over by various state police forces over 3,536 such men and women while crossing over from India to the other recorded figures for last year were 2,425 (incoming) and 1,049 (outgoing).As many as 77 instances of attack on BSF personnel by miscreants from both India and Bangladesh have been recorded last year at the border while 35 such incidents have been reported till June this year on this front, according to the data.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BSF raises 'drone squadron' for Indo-Pak border post-Operation Sindoor
The Border Security Force (BSF) is raising a maiden "drone squadron" for deployment along the India-Pakistan border even as it has begun "hardening" its defences and posts against lethal UAV attacks in the wake of lessons drawn during Operation Sindoor. The squadron, to be based in specific border outposts (BoPs) at this front, will comprise an assortment of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and specially-trained personnel who can operate these machines, official sources in the security establishment said. The squadron will be navigated by a control room based in the western command headquarters of the BSF in Chandigarh, the sources said. The BSF is primarily tasked to guard the India-Pakistan international border (IB). The decision to raise the unit was taken after a recent review of the strengths, weaknesses and threats facing the force post-Operation Sindoor. The operation was launched by India to strike at terrorist and defence bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliation against the Pahalgam attack of April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the Baisaran meadows. The BSF actively participated in the operation, launched on May 7, along with the Army. Pakistan sent thousands of drones, including a swarm of these flying objects, in response to Operation Sindoor to target Indian bases as well as civilian areas along the western front. On May 10, a bomb-laden Pakistani drone dropped explosives at its border post Kharkola in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. Two BSF personnel and an Army jawan deployed at the post were killed while four troops were critically injured, with one of them undergoing a leg amputation during treatment. Sources said the BSF drone squadron will be located in a specific number of BOPs located along the more than 2,000-km-long India-Pakistan border running from Jammu in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat on the western side of the country. The squadron will be equipped with a variety of small and large surveillance, reconnaissance and attack drones that will be launched during operations or any 'hot war' like situation similar to Operation Sindoor, the sources in the security establishment said. A small team of about 2-3 personnel each will be deployed in "vulnerable and specified" BOPs. Some drones and gadgetry are being procured for the maiden squadron and the personnel chosen for the task are being trained in batches, they said. The BSF, learning from the May 10 drone attack, has also begun hardening its defences and bunkers, along the border with Pakistan to fend off attacks in which enemy drones cross over and drop bombs and explosives. The roofs and walls of the BOP bunkers are being strengthened using alloy sheets. Some more measures are being taken to fortify the posts that are vulnerable to drone attacks, sources said as they refused to elaborate, citing operational confidentiality. A BSF officer deployed along this front added that the force is in touch with defence research and intelligence agencies to deploy counter-drone machines at select border posts so that "rogue or armed drones" flying in from across the frontier can be neutralised. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the BSF destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts and "completely dismantled" their surveillance system during Operation Sindoor.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF raises 'drone squadron' for Indo-Pak border post-Operation Sindoor
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Border Security Force (BSF) is raising a maiden "drone squadron" for deployment along the India-Pakistan border even as it has begun "hardening" its defences and posts against lethal UAV attacks in the wake of lessons drawn during Operation Sindoor The squadron, to be based in specific border outposts (BoPs) at this front, will comprise an assortment of reconnaissance, surveillance and attack drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and specially-trained personnel who can operate these machines, official sources in the security establishment told squadron will be navigated by a control room based in the western command headquarters of the BSF in Chandigarh, the sources said. The BSF is primarily tasked to guard the India-Pakistan international border (IB).The decision to raise the unit was taken after a recent review of the strengths, weaknesses and threats facing the force post-Operation operation was launched by India to strike at terrorist and defence bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a retaliation against the Pahalgam attack of April 22 in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in the Baisaran BSF actively participated in the operation, launched on May 7, along with the sent thousands of drones, including a swarm of these flying objects, in response to Operation Sindoor to target Indian bases as well as civilian areas along the western May 10, a bomb-laden Pakistani drone dropped explosives at its border post Kharkola in the RS Pura sector of Jammu. Two BSF personnel and an Army jawan deployed at the post were killed while four troops were critically injured, with one of them undergoing a leg amputation during said the BSF drone squadron will be located in a specific number of BOPs located along the more than 2,000-km-long India-Pakistan border running from Jammu in the north to Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat on the western side of the squadron will be equipped with a variety of small and large surveillance, reconnaissance and attack drones that will be launched during operations or any 'hot war' like situation similar to Operation Sindoor, the sources in the security establishment said.A small team of about 2-3 personnel each will be deployed in "vulnerable and specified" BOPs. Some drones and gadgetry are being procured for the maiden squadron and the personnel chosen for the task are being trained in batches, they BSF, learning from the May 10 drone attack, has also begun hardening its defences and bunkers, along the border with Pakistan to fend off attacks in which enemy drones cross over and drop bombs and roofs and walls of the BOP bunkers are being strengthened using alloy sheets. Some more measures are being taken to fortify the posts that are vulnerable to drone attacks, sources said as they refused to elaborate, citing operational confidentiality.A BSF officer deployed along this front added that the force is in touch with defence research and intelligence agencies to deploy counter-drone machines at select border posts so that "rogue or armed drones" flying in from across the frontier can be Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the BSF destroyed more than 118 Pakistani posts and "completely dismantled" their surveillance system during Operation Sindoor.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BSF ADG Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal reviews security at India-Bangladesh border in Tripura
Guwahati: BSF's Additional Director General (ADG), Eastern Command, Kolkata, Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal , visited bordering areas and Border Outposts (BOPs) along the India-Bangladesh border with Tripura. A BSF spokesman said that during his four-day visit (June 24-27), Aggarwal, a senior IPS officer, interacted with field commanders and jawans to assess the situation along the India-Bangladesh border. He said that the BSF ADG, along with Inspector General (IG), BSF Tripura frontier Ashwani Kumar Sharma, visited the BOPs falling under the districts of West Tripura, Sepahijala, South Tripura, Gomati and Dhalai. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Florida: These Companies Are Overcharging You for Auto Insurance Experts In Savings Learn More Undo The ADG, during his visit to the borders, took stock of the security scenario and reviewed operational readiness and vigilance on the frontiers. Aggarwal held meetings with Tripura Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu, Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J K Sinha and Director General of Police Anurag and discussed various operational and administrative issues for effective border management in the state of Tripura. Live Events The BSF ADG on Friday addressed a Sainik Sammelan at BSF's Tripura frontier headquarters at Salbagan. Tripura Chief Minister Saha reiterated that the state government would not allow illegal immigrants from Bangladesh or Myanmar to enter Indian territory under any circumstances. Tripura has an 856 km border with Bangladesh.
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Top BSF officer reviews operational preparedness along Indo-Bangla border with Tripura
Agartala: BSF's Additional Director General (ADG), Eastern Command, Kolkata, on Tuesday visited several Border Outposts (BOPs) and Integrated Check Post (ICP) Agartala-Akhaura and interacted with field commanders and jawans and reviewed operational preparedness, an official said. A BSF spokesman said that senior IPS officer Aggarwal, soon after his arrival in Agartala on a four-day visit to Tripura, was received at the airport by Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Inspector General (IG), BSF Tripura frontier. Upon his arrival at BSF frontier headquarters, the ADG was accorded a Guard of Honour. Later, he was briefed by the frontier IG Sharma on the operational issues and key strategic matters. 'The ADG visited BOP Bhagalpur, BOP Lankamura and ICP Agartala-Akhaura (along the India-Bangladesh border) to take stock of the operational preparedness and interact with field commanders and jawans,' the spokesman said. Tripura, which has an 856 km border with Bangladesh, is surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country, making the northeastern state very vulnerable and sensitive to cross-border migration issues. Except for some patches, most of the frontier had been fenced to prevent smuggling, trans-border crimes, cross-border illegal movements by infiltrators and inimical elements. Senior BSF officer's visit to Tripura came four days after a top Army officer's visit to the bordering state. General Officer Commanding (GOC), Red Shield Division of the Indian Army, Major General S.S. Kartikeya, visited the Army training facility in Tripura and reviewed the combat training of the troops last week. Defence spokesman Lt Col Amit Shukla had said that during his visit, the GOC witnessed a series of rigorous training modules being undertaken by the troops, including jungle warfare, firing drills, drone operations, obstacle navigation and special operations. The training facility has been instrumental in enhancing terrain-specific warfare skills and technological integration for soldiers operating in the northeastern region, the spokesman said. He said that interacting with the soldiers post the demonstration, the General Officer appreciated the dedication, adaptability to emerging technologies and exceptional state of physical and mental toughness of the personnel. Major General Kartikeya applauded the professionalism and discipline displayed by the troops and urged all ranks to continue striving for excellence. The visit underscores the Army's continued focus on capacity building, operational readiness and motivation of troops serving in challenging operational environments.
