Strengthening domination, BSF sets up composite BOP across Ravi

From  Hindustan Times

BOP Grove (Indo-Pak border), 

June 18, 2013

With an aim to strengthen its border domination across the river Ravi, the Border Security Force on Tuesday set open the first composite Border Out Post (BOP) of Punjab Frontier. Since under a special project, the Government of India had decided to construct 509 composite BOP's with borders of the country, BOP Grove in the Amritsar sector is the only one sanctioned for Punjab.

IG BSF Aditya Mishra inaugurating the new BOP Grove along India-Pakistan border in Amritsar on Tuesday. Munish Byala/HT

BOP grove is situated in the area which is majorly cut off as it is across the river. And over the years domination of the BSF has been less and considering that it was a hyper sensitive area.
Inaugurating the BOP Grove, IG Punjab frontier of the BSF, Aditya Mishra said, "Under the central project, Punjab has got only one composite BP, which is built at a cost of Rs.2.71 Crores. Rest of the BOP'S are on the Indo-Bangla border."

This BOP was important because of its location. BOP Grove is much ahead of the river and is part of major chunk of Indian Territory that is cut off. Although smuggling or intrusion is less in this area but definitely Pakistan keeps an eye to dominate it. So it was very important to have a composite BOP here to keep an eye, added IG Mishra.

This BOP has 14 elements that will help in better work environment for jawans and also strengthen our dominance in the area, he added.

On a question, IG said, "Our effort is to provide best of facilities to our jawans and now work will start to upgrade other BOP's along the Punjab border. There are many elements that are required and we will try to improve on that, he said.

Answering a question, Mishra stressed that couple of other such areas are there in Ferozepur sector that are cut off and soon strengthening will done in that region as well.

BSF official mentioned that countering smuggling was a major challenge and regular seizures make it evident that BSF troops were on job.

The composite BOP Grove has facilities such as Office Block, Barrack, dining hall, security infrastructure and other needed facilities.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Amritsar/Strengthening-domination-BSF-sets-up-composite-BOP-across-Ravi/SP-Article1-1078570.aspx

BSF inaugurates first composite border out post grove in Punjab

From The Times Of India
Yudhvir Rana, TNN | Jun 18, 2013
AMRITSAR: Border Security Force (BSF) inaugurates its first Composite Border Out Post (BOP) Grove near Indo Pak international border in Punjab on Tuesday. Grove is one out of total 509 BOP's sanctioned by government both at Indo Pak and Indo Bangla borders. 

BSF inspector general, frontier, Aditya Mishra inaugurated the Grove post which is situated ahead of river Ravi. Prominent among others who were present on the occasion included BSF, DIG, Amritsar JSND Parsad and deputy commandant Shubendu. Mishra informed that these BOP's were to be constructed in phased manners by executing agency through ministry of home affairs and have 14 elements." 

With the construction of these BOPs, the troops will get proper accommodation besides these will help in better border management. He informed that the existing old pattern BOPs were also to be upgraded to the level of composite BOPs in phased manner. 

"This concept of composite BOPs is for increasing level of satisfaction in living conditions of Jawans as well as for increasing work efficiency" said he.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/BSF-inaugurates-first-composite-border-out-post-grove-in-Punjab/articleshow/20650900.cms

TWO ‘SMUGGLERS’ SHOT DEAD BY BSF AT INDO-PAK BORDER

From the Pioneer

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Monday shot dead two youth, who were allegedly heroin smugglers, in an encounter at Border Outpost Burj in Amritsar sector.

Inspector General BSF, Aditya Mishra said the killed youth were identified as Ajaypal Singh (31) and Harpal Singh (30), residents of Indo-Pak border village Lopokey, and had gone to Indo-Pak border village beyond the barbed fencing wire to retrieve a consignment of heroin from their Pakistani counterparts.

The two were shot dead by BSF during a brief encounter, he added. Both were described as smugglers as per their police record.

Militants threatened BSF porters last month, says Army

From The Indian Express

Arun Sharma : Udhampur, Tue Jun 18 2013

Suspected militants sneaked into Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on May 14 and threatened BSF's porters, head of the Northern Command Lt General K T Parnaik claimed Monday.

The incident took place at Sawjian, where the barbed-wire fence along the LoC runs far behind the Indian forward post manned by the BSF. The place is not far from where Pakistani Rangers beheaded two Indian soldiers in Mendhar in January this year.

The BSF had hired porters to carry supplies and they were walking towards the post when some men, suspected to have come from across the LoC, intercepted them and asked where they were headed. On learning they were porters, the suspected intruders manhandled them, seized the identity cards of some, and warned them of dire consequences if they were seen in the area again, Parnaik claimed. From the description given by the porters, the intruders appear to be militants, he added.

4 BSF jawans suspended for firing on Bangladeshi cattle-smugglers

From The Times Of India

TNN Jun 15, 2013

KOLKATA: The BSF (South Bengal Frontier) has suspended four jawans for disobeying orders and opening fire on Bangladeshi cattle-smugglers near Petrapole in North 24-Parganas on Wednesday, in which two Bangladeshis were killed.

Over the last several years, Bangladesh has expressed concern over its citizens being killed in BSF firing along the international border. A couple of years ago, the Centre decided to arm BSF personnel with non-lethal weapons. However, there are still some locations where the jawans have to carry rifles or carbines for security purposes. At such places, the BSF personnel are specifically asked not to open fire unless there is no other option, said sources. Our relations with Bangladesh have improved in the last couple of years, ever since our jawans started displaying restraint at the international borders. The orders to them are very clear. Even if they catch a gang smuggling cattle into Bangladesh, they are to try and apprehend the criminals without using extreme force.