Need more resources to man borders: BSF

Admitting that barbed wire fencing along the border was not impermeable as had been considered by them earlier, Mitra said to deal with the situation, especially in view of a spurt in infiltration attempts from across the border, an additional 1,000 troops were being deployed to guard the frontiers.

This was apart from two BSF battalions being relieved of counter-insurgency duty by CRPF soon, he said, adding they would also be deployed on the borders.

He attributed Tuesday night’s infiltration by militants to “human error”, saying they would focus on the use of high-tech gadgets to check infiltration. As part of these efforts, the BSF would be provided with thermal imagers and night-vision devices, he said, adding early warning system would also be installed at vulnerable places along the 191.5 km-long international border with Pakistan.

Pointing out that each and every yard of the border cannot be watched, Mitra said the protective bundh which was constructed by BSF to take cover from Pakistani firing during the laying of barbed wire fencing along the international border, was also being demolished to have a clear vision of the areas lying ahead of the fencing. “It (bundh) hinders visibility of our troops who are deployed behind the barbed wire fencing,” he said, adding orders had also been issued to clear the wild growth in areas falling ahead of it.