Manning of Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has put an effective check on subversive, militant and fundamentalist activities there. The Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil said this at the 42nd Anniversary function of the SSB here this morning. He said that earlier, the unmanned borders with Nepal and Bhutan gave an opportunity to the forces inimical to the country’s interests to further their nefarious designs. After having been entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders, SSB has deployed a number of battalions and civilian units there. The Home Minister said that SSB’s deployment on the Indo-Bhutan border is currently very thin, but with the likely addition of twenty more battalions in the next two years, this gap will be plugged. The Cabinet has already approved raising of these battalions. The Home Minister said that raising of the battalions would provide an opportunity to the youth, particularly in border areas to take part in the process of nation building and provide security to the nation. He pointed out that with people from either side moving freely across the border, managing the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders requires sensitive handling. These borders also comprise some extremely inhospitable terrain. The Home Minister expressed the Government’s resolve to ensure that the teething problems being faced by the SSB in its new role are solved in the shortest possible time. He underlined the fact that guarding the country’s borders with Nepal and Bhutan would not be possible through armed forces or police alone and would require an able, conscious and alert population committed to national security. He expressed happiness over the fact that SSB has been reaching out to the border population by extending medical facilities as well.
Earlier, in his address, the Director General of SSB, Shri Himanshu Kumar gave a brief account of the arrests and seizures made by the Force on the Indo-Nepal border. 586 criminals including 439 smugglers and 55 Maoists have been arrested and seizures worth over 8 crore rupees including narcotics and fake currency have been made. 83 fire-arms have also been seized.
The Home Minister inspected a colourful parade on the occasion and took salute of the marching contingents. He also awarded the President’s police medal for distinguished service to one officer and police medals for meritorious service to 16 officers. He also awarded the Prime Minister’s Life Saving Medal posthumously to Constable Moti Lal. The programme ended with an exciting display of fencing and martial arts.
OK/MM
(Release ID :8176)