Seema Bal to redefine ''enemy'' under its own Act: Cabinet

New Delhi, Aug 9 (UNI) The Sashastra Seema Bal will soon have its own Act which will delink the force from the CRPF, redefine its ''enemy'' to cover drug peddlers and provide its own service rules, the Cabinet decided today.

The Centre would have the relevant Bill, which had been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, passed during the monsoon session beginning tomorrow, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi told reporters.

Accordingly, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949 would be amended, he said.

The new law would turn the Bal into a separate entity like other border security forces, improving its discipline and performance, the Minister said.

Under the present legal provisions, the Bal views only ''armed mutineers'' as its enemy. The proposed definition would make any person or group of persons whose conduct would be detrimental to the country as its enemy.

Smugglers of drugs and other contraband substances would come under the purview of the new definition of enemy, a senior official said.

UNI