India plans patrol-free, multi-layer smart fence along Pakistan, Bangladesh borders
- By Web Desk -
- Dec 01, 2016
NEW DELHI: India would have a patrol-free, multi-layered smart fence along its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh by the end of 2017, local media reported on Wednesday as the Indian Union home ministry approved the project.
According to a report published by Times of India (TOI), Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) KK Sharma said the force was working to implement a Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) where the security of the two sensitive and difficult terrain borders would shift from the regular troops patrolling system to a quick reaction team pattern where guards strike once they notice a blip of infiltration on their surveillance radars.
Must Read: General Raheel Sharif issues warning to India
“We are taking some concerted efforts to modernise our border fence. Twenty big companies are currently undertaking a technical evaluation for the CIBMS. It is expected that it would be on the ground by the second half of next year,” revealed Sharma.
“In this regard, few pilot projects are already on…two in Jammu and one each in Punjab and Gujarat where we have marshy areas. One project will be done in Assam’s Dhubri,” said the director general.
He pointed out that the effort of BSF with some 250,000 personnel in its ranks, was “to modernise itself” in a bid to minimise human errors and inaccuracies.
Sharma said once the CIBMS goes functional, aided by laser fence, surveillance radars, satellite imagery and thermal gadgets, the troops on the ground would respond when there is an alarm of an infiltration bid in the multi-tier security ring comprising the regular fence and laser walls.
Also Read: US wants dialogue between Pakistan, India to improve cooperation
He added BSF was looking for gadgets and technical support to counter hidden tunnels running across the Indian borders.
The BSF Director General said that they were in touch with countries like Israel and elite Indian technology institutes to procure the right technology.
“We are in the process to plug breaches by technical solutions at both Pakistan and Bangladesh borders,” Sharma said.
All intrusions in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 took place from the Line of Control (LoC), guarded by the Indian Army, he added.
“We do our best to stop (infiltrators/militants). To a very large extent, we are successful. This year whatever intrusions have taken place, I can assure you, have been from the LoC. I take to guarantee that we will not allow these attempts to succeed from the Indian borders which I (BSF) guard,” he said.