Border Security Force, India @ whatisindia.com

The Border Security Force (BSF) of India, which was raised in December 1965, is charged with the task of maintaining permanent vigilance on India's international borders. Its functions are

to promote a security among the people living in the border areas,
to prevent trans-border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India, and
to prevent smuggling and any other illegal activities.

In addition during the period of war, the Force has a supplementary role with the Army and functions directly under the operational command of the Army. Being an armed force, BSF units are called upon to undertake various internal security duties and are also employed in aid to civil administration.

With headquarters in Delhi, the BSF is headed by a Director General. It also maintains liaison with other forces operating in the border area. The present strength of the BSF is 157 infantry battalions and 20 artillery battalions. It has the responsibility of guarding 6476 km of international borders.

The Border Security Force (BSF) Act came into force through legislative sanction on 2nd Sepetember, 1968.

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The decision whether to send central forces to Nandigram rests with the Prime Minister’s Office. (Force File With Pmo, Telegraph, BHAVNA VIJ-AURORA, Nov 08, 2007)

The proposed visit of Defence Minister AK Antony to Israel will, apart from underscoring the strategic relationship between the two countries, send out the right political message to Tel Aviv. (Antony's Israel Visit, Pioneer, Editorial, The Pioneer, Nov 08, 2007)

While the visitors' galleries on the Indian side were jam-packed with hundreds of slogan-raising visitors cheering the BSF jawans sprightly marching during the retreat ceremony, the response at the galleries on the Pakistani side was comparatively lukewar (Wagah: Pak Galleries Empty , Deccan Herald, Correspondent or Reporter, Nov 06, 2007)

From separatists to mainstream parties to the common man, the imposition of Emergency in Pakistan has concerned everybody in Kashmir. (Kashmir To Face Pak Emergency Impact , Statesman, Correspondent or Reporter, Nov 05, 2007)

India has asked its security forces to step up vigil along the border with Pakistan to check possible infiltration by religious extremists who may try to escape the dragnet in Pakistan, Press Trust of India said on Sunday. (Indian Border Police On Alert , Dawn, Jawed Naqvi, Nov 05, 2007)

India has taken all precautionary measures to ensure its security and is closely monitoring the situation in Pakistan in the wake of President General Pervez Musharraf imposing Emergency there on Saturday. (India Closely Watching Developments In Pak: Antony, Pioneer, Correspondent or Reporter, Nov 05, 2007)

THE Parliamentary Committee on Defence has only reiterated a long-standing demand of the armed forces and strategic experts with its recent call to withdraw the Army from internal security deployments and hand over the task to paramilitary . . . . (Break For Army, Tribune, Editorial, The Tribune, Nov 03, 2007)

India and Bangladesh have reached a consensus on exchanging terror information and handing over criminals hiding in each other’s territory as the five-day directors-general level talks between the two neighbours ended. (Bsf-Bdr Consensus On Exchanging Terror Information, Hindu, HAROON HABIB, Oct 31, 2007)

In a way, Maoists have succeeded in their design: the “enemy” is drawing into Naxalite territory. (Maoists Meet Their Match In Cops, Telegraph, Nishit Dholabhai, Oct 27, 2007)

India and Bangladesh began six-day border talks here on Thursday in an effort to defuse tension, control cross-border insurgency and smuggling. (Indo-Bangla Border Talks Begin In Dhaka, Hindu, Hassan Shahriar, Oct 26, 2007)

Security forces have apprehended a suspected militant after an encounter with the ultras in the Ramban district, official sources said here today. (Suspected Militant Held, Tribune, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 26, 2007)

In a damage-control exercise, the Crime Investigation Department has reportedly asked the family of a hardcore militant travelling to India to leave the country. The security and intelligence agencies had cleared their visit to India. (Militant’S Family Told To Leave India , Tribune, Shariq Majeed, Oct 25, 2007)

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat has urged Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to share with the West Bengal government and agencies concerned the information he has about foodgrains meant for the Targeted . . . . (Brinda Karat To Pawar: Share Information, Hindu, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 19, 2007)

The West Bengal government has denied an allegation reportedly made by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that foodgrains meant for the public distribution system in the State were being diverted to Bangladesh. (Pds Foodgrains Not Diverted: West Bengal, Hindu, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 17, 2007)

Annoyed with Bangladesh’s failure to take action against terror groups acting out of its soil, the Government is seriously considering the use of trade-related measures to extract some deliverables from the current regime in Dhaka. (India May Use Trade To Make Bangla Act On Terror, Indian Express, VIKAS DHOOT, Oct 17, 2007)

In March 2007, five ISI agents sneaked into India through the Bangladesh border, allegedly with the help of the BSF. (Ap Blasts: Bsf Let Isi Strikers In, Deccan Herald, Bala Chauhan, Oct 15, 2007)

Rajasthan police is interrogating some suspects, including pilgrims of Bangladeshi origin, in connection with the blast at the revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti here where Friday prayers will go ahead as scheduled. (Ajmer Blast: B'desh Suspected , New Indian Express, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 12, 2007)

Rajasthan police is interrogating some suspects, including pilgrims of Bangladeshi origin, in connection with the blast at the revered Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti here where Friday prayers will go ahead as scheduled today. (Ajmer Dargah Blast; Bangladeshi Pilgrims Being Questioned, OutLook, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 12, 2007)

Three alleged criminals wanted by the Bangladesh police were handed over to Bangladesh authorities by the Kolkata police. (3 Alleged Criminals Handed Over To Bangladesh, Hindu, HAROON HABIB, Oct 09, 2007)

The Border Security Force and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) exchanged fire near the Sidhai border outpost in West Bengal’s South Dinajpur district on Wednesday night. (Bsf, Bdr Exchange Fire, Hindu, Correspondent or Reporter, Oct 05, 2007)