The Hindu : National : Border patrolling force moots proposals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006

National

National

Border patrolling force moots proposals

Special Correspondent

PATNA: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which guards the borders with Nepal and Bhutan, has proposed restructuring of the force in the wake of the challenges it faces in the form of ISI and Maoist activities.

SSB Director-General Tilak Kak, who made an emergency survey of the sensitive areas in Bihar, on Monday emphasised the need for a system to identify those crossing the border.

As the borders are managed according to the provisions of the friendship treaties, Mr. Kak suggested to the Centre that bona fide citizens alone be allowed to use the checkpoints and "aliens and third country nationals" be barred.

Mr. Kak has recommended that the 16 documents used by the Election Commission for identifying voters be adopted for allowing people to cross the borders.

He has sent a proposal to the Centre for the modernisation of the force and equipping it with sophisticated arms and better surveillance equipment. Mr. Kak was confident that the recommendations would be implemented at an estimated cost of over Rs. 100 crore by the end of the current financial year.

The proposal included the induction of about 150 motorised boats to operate on the numerous rivers that criss-cross north Bihar.

The SSB , which has been given the responsibility to patrol the borders along Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim, has decided to raise four more battalions.

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