BSF women guard Pak-Punjab border

Punjab, Sep 11: Women guards from The Border Security Force (BSF) were deployed on Pakistan border in Punjab.

The move would make foolproof body frisking at border check posts and farms lying across the border fence, said an official.

"The wives of our farmers cross the fencing at the border to carry out farming activities. We need to frisk them while going and coming back, which our male constables cannot do. So we have appointed women constables so that the security angle can be covered," said H S Garcha, Commandant, 43 Battalion, BSF, Ferozepur.

These personnel have been given training in weapon handling, intelligence gathering, border management, unarmed combat, frisking and guard duties.

"I was always interested in joining the armed forces, I also had NCC in my college. Since then I had this in mind that if given an opportunity, I would definitely do something like this. I always wanted to wear this uniform," said Randeep Ranju, a BSF constable.

BSF formed its first women battalion when 178 recruits passed out of the BSF's Subsidiary Training Centre at Kharga near Hoshiarpur on Saturday, Jul 25.

BSF hopes to train 35,000 women guards in the paramilitary force within four years.

ANI