Extension of jurisdiction to strengthen police: Border Security Force IG

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Centre has extended the territorial jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Assam and West Bengal from 15 km to 50 km from the international border. It will authorize the border force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger radius from the international border.

Addressing media at the BSF Guwahati Frontier Headquarters at Patgaon here on Thursday, Inspector General of BSF, Guwahati Frontier Sanjay Singh Gehlot said that the extension of territorial jurisdiction of the BSF would strengthen the state police forces in maintaining law and order.

BSF Guwahati Frontier is guarding the Indo-Bangladesh border of the West Bengal and Assam sectors, covering 509 km of the international border. To secure the assigned international border between India and Bangladesh, 11 BSF battalions and a water wing with 80 types of watercraft have been deployed at 137 border outposts under three-sector headquarters.

"We have started dominating the area of jurisdiction extended by the government. So we need more resources to dominate the area," Gehlot said. Answering a query about the possibility of encroachment along the international border, he said that the BSF has been guarding the international border 24x7. Therefore, there is no likelihood of any encroachment.

"If we see anything, we speak to BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh). We are in contact with their battalion commander, their sector commander and their regional commander," the BSF IG said. He further mentioned that after the passing of the Cattle Preservation Bill in Assam, the state police have become proactive. BSF is working in coordination with them, leading to reduction cattle smuggling in the state, he said.

The BSF has been given powers of arrest, search and seizure under various Acts. These Acts include Passport Act 1967, Passport Act (Entry into India) 1920, Customs Act, NDPS Act and Arms Act. Recently, the Central Government has issued three notifications under provisions of CrPC 1973, Passport (Entry into India) Act 1920 and Passport Act 1967, uniformly extending the jurisdiction of Border Security Force within a belt of 50 km running along the borders of India in the state of West Bengal and Assam. However, the BSF has no investigative powers like the police and it does not have powers to register FIRs or to carry out investigations. Any seizure or apprehension made by BSF has to be handed over to state police or any other law-enforcement agency within the given time frame. The state police, however, have full jurisdiction up to the international boundary.

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