Amit Shah outlines vision for tech-fortified borders

Jammu, Apr 7: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday asserted that technology-driven 26 initiatives including anti-drone technology, tunnel identification and electronic surveillance were underway and within three to four years, the entire India-Pak border would be fully equipped with a tech-enabled surveillance model.

He stated that the results of some of these tech-driven initiatives would be available by next March, facilitating BSF personnel in performing their arduous duties with ease.

Shah, who arrived in Jammu on his three-day J&K visit on Sunday evening, was addressing Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers at the “Vinay” Border Out Post (BOP) along the International Border (IB) in Kathua district.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director IB Tapan Deka, Director General BSF Daljit Singh Choudhary, J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat, IG BSF Jammu Frontier Shashank Anand and IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti besides other senior officers and dignitaries, were present during the event.

Referring to two models of electronic surveillance systems developed for deployment on the border, Shah, during his interaction with BSF soldiers, stated that they (e-surveillance models) would simplify and expedite information about intrusion or intel reception and response to enemy actions.

“Technology is being used to identify infiltration; detect and destroy tunnels. Such experiments are underway. In the next three to four years, the entire India-Pakistan border will be enabled by e-surveillance and later this special tech-driven project will be extended to the India-Bangladesh border as well,” the Union Home Minister shared with the soldiers.

India shares a 3323 km border with Pakistan, including 944 km in J&K (744 km LoC and 200 km IB).

Earlier, Shah paid tributes to Assistant Commandant Vinay Prasad.

“Vinay Post” was named after the officer (Vinay Prasad), who was killed in action on January 15, 2019, in a Pak Rangers' fire when he was supervising an embankment project. The BSF officer had retaliated but sustained grievous injuries and died.

The Union Home Minister also met the formation commanders besides inspecting surveillance equipment kept on display inside the post.

Later, at the very outset of his address, Shah lauded the dedication and commitment of BSF personnel deployed there to safeguard the borders 24X7 on all 365 days of the year, facing all odds to protect the country and its sovereignty.

“Today my programme was scheduled to visit this “Vinay” BOP (in Kathua district) of Jammu (region) along the India-Pakistan border. Once you come here only then you realise, as I have reiterated during my visits to the hinterland in other parts of the country, under how arduous and challenging circumstances, our valorous security personnel work to ensure the protection of the country's borders,” he said.

The Union Home Minister said that in some places, they (BSF soldiers) would work in unbearable bone-chilling winters while at some places, they would perform duties amid unrelenting rains or confronting 45 degrees or above temperatures.

“Treacherous geographical features or vagaries of capricious weather don’t allow you to go slack or rest even for a while. Irrespective of adverse weather or geographical conditions, every minute you have to slog at your posts– all for the sake of the sovereignty of this nation; you have to remain alert, always on your toes so that the enemy country does not indulge in some inimical act,” Shah stated while commending the unflinching perseverance of the BSF soldiers.

Asserting that BSF has an unblemished historical account to its credit across the country as the valorous force engaged in guarding borders and protecting the country, he said, “Entire nation knows that the BSF is the first line of defence and the force has always performed this responsibility exceptionally well. In every war with Pakistan, the contribution of our BSF soldiers has been as significant as that of the Indian Army.”

Shah said that given the sacrifices, commitment and valour of BSF soldiers, while protecting the nation from enemies from across the border, they commanded deep respect from the countrymen.

Enlisting welfare schemes for the security personnel, Shah reiterated that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was working to reduce the difficulties faced by soldiers in the discharge of their duties and would continue to do so.

The Union Home Minister inaugurated newly built facilities at the border, including eight women's barracks, high-mast lights, a G 1 tower, and a composite BOP, all constructed at Rs 47.22 crore.

Notably, in 2021, Shah also visited the Makwal Border Post along the Jammu frontier.

After visiting “Vinay Post” and security assessment there, the Union Home Minister returned to Raj Bhawan, Jammu, where he met the families of the Police personnel killed in the line of duty and distributed the appointment letters to the Next of Kin on compassionate grounds.

Later in the evening, he paid a visit to the residence of the Leader of Opposition, Sunil Kumar Sharma in Gandhi Nagar, before proceeding to Srinagar for the next leg of his visit.

Following the night halt at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar, his major engagements on April 8 morning will be the review of ongoing development projects in J&K, including the execution of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) at 11 am.

This will be followed by a high-level review meeting vis-à-vis J&K security at 1 pm, to be attended by the Union Home Secretary and other senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the top brass of intelligence agencies and central paramilitary forces.

Security review meetings may be spread in two parts – including Unified Headquarters, focused on synergised anti-terrorist operations ensuring a 360-degree security grid.

Security preparedness related to Amarnath Yatra and the inauguration of “Train to Kashmir” (scheduled for the third week of April by the Prime Minister) may form the agenda of the second meeting.

The venue for all these engagements will be Raj Bhawan.

The Union Home Minister is likely to inaugurate or lay the foundation stone of some specified development projects also virtually from the Raj Bhawan. This engagement may see the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as well. He (the CM) may also have a one-on-one meeting with Shah as per tweaks made in his tentative itinerary.

Shah will return to the union capital on April 8 afternoon.