Border with Bangladesh, Pak will be sealed: Rajnath

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said a new roadmap is afoot to strengthen the border security and seal firmly the International Border with Bangladesh and Pakistan. "The Centre has chalked out a new roadmap to strengthen the border security and plans to seal the International Borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan," Singh said, addressing the Passing Out Parade of the BSF assistant commandants at the BSF Academy at Tekanpur near here.

The parade also saw the first woman assistant commandant of India's border guarding force, Tanushree Pareek, passing out with Home Minister Singh registering his praise for the BSF's first woman field officer. An official release here quoted the Union Home Minister Singh as saying that the BSF had changed the rules of engagement on the International Border and now it was a "known force" even in the neighbouring countries.

The BSF built 73 Border Out Posts (BOPs) recently, and three more will be added soon, he added. "We are also planning an effective grievance redressal mechanism in the forces," the Home Minister said. The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) were setting up such a mechanism, the release added.

BSF was the only force after the Indian Army to operate on land, water and air, he said. It is not only the "first line of defence" but also the "first wall of defence," he added. "Display courage in the face of professional challenges, (show) compassion to the troops under command and (observe) integrity of highest order," Singh said while addressing the passing out Assistant Commandants, according to the release.