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The Border Security Force (BSF), as its name suggests, is one of India’s four border patrol forces and one of seven Central Police Forces (CPFs) under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The world’s biggest border guarding force, BSF, covers the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders. Although border security is the primary function of BSF, India’s growing inner security dangers have ordered it with other duties, such as counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, disaster management, and domestic peacekeeping. BSF also acts as the representative of the Indian government in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions. While BSF has accomplished much to keep India’s borders secure and strengthen internal security, it has been criticized for its tactics, indifference to human rights, corruption, and involvement in criminal movements.
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History of BSF
On December 1, 1965, BSF was created as a specialized force responsible for guarding India’s borders. The 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, initiated by Pakistani attacks on Indian border outposts, revealed significant structural problems with India’s border protection strategy. Before creating the BSF, the Indo-Pak border was guarded by state police forces from 1947 to 1965. The police forces functioned independently of the federal government and maintained little or no communication with other states. These state forces were generally untrained for their duties, lacked sufficient strength and equipment, and had little coordination with the Army or any central police force. They also lacked a strong intelligence infrastructure.
On April 9, 1965, the 51st Infantry Brigade of the Pakistan Army crossed into the Rann of Kutch, guarded by the State Reserve Police Force of Gujarat, and attacked and captured Sardar Post, Chhar Bet, and Beria Bet border outposts in Kutch, Gujarat. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indian Army troops had to be moved into the area to aid the Gujarat police. Repeated incursions by the Pakistani Army before April and the continuance of such attacks until June necessitated rethinking border security.
Information on BSF committee:
The Emergency Committee of the Cabinet, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, met on April 20, 1965, to discuss the police in the border protection role. On May 17, a meeting between the Union Home Minister, the Union Defense Secretary, and the Chief of Army Staff put forth a blueprint for what would later become BSF. One of the most important proposals was the need to combine all border patrolling police units into one under the federal government’s control. Suitable training, appropriate equipment, command structures, and roles were also discussed. On June 6-7, a meeting of State Home Ministers agreed to shift border protection duties to the central government. The central government appointed Indian Police Service (IPS) officer K.F. Rustamji to represent the paramilitary force to be formed. The government also instituted a Special Study Group to explore effective border protection further. The group identified problems associated with police protection of the borders to recommend specific measures for the new force. The recommendations of the group formed the organizational structure of BSF.
Who all are included in BSF?
BSF was born by combining 25 border battalions of the states’ police forces. Five out of the 12 India Reserve Battalions were added to this new force. BSF was initially formed under the CRPF Act. Parliament passed the Border Security Force Act, 1968, which contained BSF Rules. The specific task was the protection of the India-Pakistan border. BSF’s formation coincided with a cessation of hostilities with Pakistan. The force’s first real test came in 1971 when it served as the first line of defense against Pakistani invaders.
Headed by a director-general, BSF consists of 159 battalions with 220,000 personnel. Delegated duties are carried out by various directorates – operations, intelligence, IT, training, administration, etc. The BSF is also one of the few forces in India to have maritime and aviation capabilities.
While BSF is supposed to be a border protection agency, its current duties go far beyond this role. Five out of the 12 India Reserve Battalions were added to this new force. BSF was initially formed under the CRPF Act. Parliament passed the Border Security Force Act, 1968, which contained BSF Rules. The specific task was the protection of the India-Pakistan border.
Conclusion
The BSF is India’s primary border security force. This paramilitary force is one of India’s five Central Armed Police Forces. Its mandate is to guard the country’s land border during peacetime and prevent transnational crime.BSF was designated to answer to the 1965 war with Pakistan when that country attempted to extend its borders at India’s expense. Until that time, the State Armed Police Battalion protected the border with Pakistan. It proved ineffective when faced with Pakistani aggression, and this was when the condition of a specialised armed force for manning India’s borders was realised.
