BSF opts for hi-tech weapons, new vehicle patrol track

Admitting that there was a spurt in attempts to smuggle narcotics and intrude on the Indo-Pak border in recent months, BSF Punjab Frontier Inspector General Aditya Mishra today revealed that apart from equipping the force with hi-tech weapons, a special project to construct vehicular patrol track along the international border would begin soon.

Recently, a project to construct 280-km vehicle patrol track at an estimated cost of Rs 598 crore had been sanctioned by the Union government and work on it would begin soon, Mishra said.

"Once the track is laid, it would definitely be a force-multiplier for round-the-clock patrol," the IG said, adding that a connecting track of 220 km would also be constructed to reach the patrol track.

He further revealed that a project to construct another 130-km fencing along the Indo-Pak border had also got nod from the Union government.

"Yes, in the first four months of current year, a high number of hostile attempts to smuggle in narcotics and human intrusions were noticed, which are evident from killing of 10 intruders and seizure of 127 kg of narcotics," IG Mishra told Hindustan Times, adding that after BSF had registered its protest during flag meeting with Pakistani Rangers.

The IG said that although there was no specific input from Intelligence Bureau and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), primarily the smuggling of narcotics seemed to be due to decreased security by Rangers on the other side of the border.

Regarding the steps taken by BSF to strengthen security, Mishra said that ultra-modern Beretta guns, long-range grenade launchers and X-95 assault rifles with laser points had replaced traditional weapons of the force.