BSF to overhaul security measures to check infiltration

Kolkata, Jul 11 (UNI) With infiltration of cross-border terrorists posing a major threat, the Border Security Force (BSF) will shortly go for major overhauling of security measures along in the South Bengal border with Bangladesh, electrifying the barbed wire fencing and Providing the force with more sophisticated technical gadgets.

Identifying the South and North 24 Parganas and nadia districts as the most sensitive border places for infiltration of the members of various fundamentalist organisations, the BSF had decided to electrify 1200 km of border fencing under the South Bengal frontier.

'' The Union Home Minister has already given in principle approval of the project. We are now awaiting clearance of the necesasary fund from the Union Finance Ministry, '' BSF sources said here today.

Under the plan, the BSF personnel manning the Indo-Bangla border would also be equipped with mobile and hand held thermal imagery for night vision while patrolling.

'' The equipment, which is very light, is best for detecting hidden persons in night, '' sources added.

The hand held thermal imagery system was at present available only with the Army and BSF in Jammu and Kashmir.

The sources said the measures were being taken to give the force more teeth to effectively deal with the infiltration problem.

'' Most of the incidents of infiltration take place during night.

It more difficult for the force to watch the movement of anybody hiding inside our territory while it is raining.

The new measures would help us a lot, '' the sources stated.

UNI