NEW DELHI: The home ministry on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that the extended territorial jurisdiction of BSF in some states was aimed at empowering the force to discharge its border guarding duties effectively in the wake of the use of long-range drones and long- UAVs by the anti-national forces for surveillance, and also to check the smuggling of arms, narcotics, fake currency and cattle.
Incidentally, MoS (home) Nityanand Rai, in his written reply to a question, did not mention ‘demographic change’ in border districts of Assam and West Bengal, among the reasons for extending the BSF’s powers of seizure, search and arrest under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, Passport Act and certain sections of CrPC to 50 kms in the states of Assam, West Bengal and Punjab from 15 km, and in the case of Gujarat, reducing it to 50 km from 80 km. The 50-km jurisdiction for BSF in Rajasthan remains unchanged.
A day ago, BSF DG had said demographic changes over a period of time in the border areas of Assam and West Bengal were probably the reason why the force’s jurisdiction was increased. He added that BSF can now help and coordinate with the state police in catching hold of the infiltrators.
“A territorial limit of 50 kms has now been kept in the bordering states of Assam, Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal in the area of responsibility of BSF for the sake of uniformity in this regard,” Rai said adding that the move will in no way impact the jurisdiction of the state police. “Rather it would result in better and more effective control on trans-border crimes in conjunction and co-operation with state police,” he noted.