Ops Alert’ exercise

Ops Alert’ exercise

Why in news:

• The Border Security Force (BSF) has started an ‘Ops Alert’ exercise to enhance security along the India­Pakistan border.

• The exercise included areas in Kutch district of Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan in view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.
• The exercise will continue till January 28 “all along the India­Pakistan International Border from Sir Creek (marshy area) to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer of Rajasthan.

More about Border Security Force:

• The Border Security Force(BSF) is India’s border guarding organisation on its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India.
• It was raised in the wake of the 1965 war “for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected there with”.
• It is the only CAPF to have a Water Wing, Air Wing and an Artillery Regiment.
• It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• BSF has been termed the First Line of Defenceof Indian territories.
• Since 2014, As a part of modernisation, BSF also started installing infra-red, thermal imagers, aerostats for aerial surveillance, ground sensors, radars, sonar systems to secure riverine borders, fibre-optic sensor and laser beam intrusion detection systems on specific sections of border with Pakistan as well as Bangladesh

Objectives of the BSF:

During peacetime:

• Border guard and security.
• Prevention trans-border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India.
• Prevention of smuggling and any other illegal activities on the border.
• Anti-infiltration duties.
• Collection trans-border intelligence.
• To promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas.

During war time:

• Holding ground in assigned sectors.
• Limited aggressive action against irregular forces of the enemy.
• Maintenance of law and order in enemy territory
• Acting as guides to the Army in border areas.
• Assistance in control of refugees.
• Provision of escorts.
• Performing special tasks connected with intelligence including cross-border raids.
• Replenishing manpower.
• BSF is also employed for Internal Security Duties and other law and order duties on the requisition of the State Government.
• Being a Central Armed Police Force it can be entrusted with policing duties at any place apart from its mandate.

Syllabus: Prelims