The jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) has been extended in the states of Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, according to news media reports. The Home Ministry has carried out this extension, thereby, giving the BSF powers of arrest, search and seizure deeper inside the states, reported the Times of India (TOI).
Further, according to reports, the area of jurisdiction is now a “50 km belt” running parallel to the national border in these states. Previously, in according with Section 139 of the Border Security Force Act 1968, it was a 15 km belt.
What Does This Mean?
The BSF can now conduct searches, arrest suspects and make seizures up to an area of 50 km inside the Indian territory from the international border in these three states. In Gujarat, the BSF jurisdiction was earlier 80 km, which was now reduced to 50 km.
No change has been made for the border states of Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, where the BSF’s jurisdiction is in the whole state.
Punjab CM Condemns the move
Government said the latest move was aimed at maintaining “zero tolerance” against terrorism and cross-border crimes. However, it has triggered a political storm in Punjab with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi calling it a direct attack on federalism.
“I strongly condemn the GoI’s unilateral decision to give additional powers to BSF within 50 KM belt running along the international borders, which is a direct attack on the federalism. I urge the Union Home Minister @AmitShah to immediately rollback this irrational decision,” Channi tweeted.
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also slammed the decision, saying policing is not the role of a border guarding force.
“This illogical decision was absolutely against the spirit of the raising of border-guarding forces, which are required to focus on the international border and act as the first line of defence,” he said.
The notification issued by the Centre, without obtaining the concurrence of the state government, amounts to an “encroachment” on the powers of the states, he further said.
Former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said Chief Minister Channi has “unwittingly managed to hand over” half of Punjab to the central government.
“Be careful what you ask for! Has Charanjit Singh Channi unwittingly managed to hand over half of Punjab to the Central govt. 25000sq km (out of a total of 50,000sq km) has now been placed under BSF jurisdiction. Punjab Police stands castigated. Do we still want more autonomy to States?” Jakhar tweeted.
Be careful what you ask for ! Has @CHARANJITCHANNI unwittingly managed to handover half of Punjab to Central govt. 25000sq km (out of total 50,000sq km) has now been placed under BSF jurisdiction. Punjab Police stands castigated. Do we still want more autonomy to States ? https://t.co/JlGB7G0Pnj
— Sunil Jakhar (@sunilkjakhar) October 13, 2021