Shah Inaugurates Two BSF Outposts In Bhuj Along India-Pakistan Border  On Four-State Border Security Tour  

New Delhi: India’s Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday inaugurated two Border Security Force (BSF) outposts – G-7 and G-13 which are situated along the India-Pakistan border in Bhuj, Gujarat, Shah interacted with personnel deployed at the frontier. The visit was part of his ongoing four-state border security tour covering Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tripura, and West Bengal, The visit aims to review India’s border security framework and strengthen inter-agency coordination, Ministry of Home Affairs said. 

Shah said in a post on X “The Modi government is committed to making India’s borders more secure, resilient, and impenetrable. As part of this ongoing effort, new Border Out Posts were inaugurated.

“During the visit, I interacted with BSF personnel who remain steadfast in safeguarding the nation’s frontiers around the clock, appreciating their dedication, vigilance, and service,” he added. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, the Union Home Secretary, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, and senior BSF officials were present at the event.

Paying tribute to the force’s six decades of service, Shah praised the BSF’s unwavering commitment under some of the most grueling conditions on earth. “Spanning from the icy peaks of Kashmir and the forests of the Sundarbans to the shores of Gangasagar, and extending to the hilly terrains of Meghalaya and Assam, the BSF has admirably fulfilled its responsibility as the First Line of Defence for over six decades. Two thousand personnel of the Force have made the supreme sacrifice for the nation,” Shah said.

He added that it is because of such dedication that India’s 1.4 billion citizens are able to sleep in peace. Shah also noted that upon visiting BSF personnel standing guard with smiling faces despite such harsh conditions, “one feels that, in comparison, our own work is quite simple.”

Sir Creek and Harami Nala

Shah acknowledged that when he assumed office as Home Minister, the Harami Nala and Sir Creek region was lagging behind in security preparedness. A comprehensive action plan was subsequently put in place. “A leak-proof security grid is being established in every respect, with work initiated on watchtowers, connecting roads, drinking water supply, medical facilities, accommodation arrangements, and new fencing. Within the next two years, this region will be permanently secured against the malicious gaze of the enemy,” he said.

The Home Minister further stated that BSF personnel in the Sir Creek and Bhuj sectors stand firm as a rock, ensuring the complete safety of the people of Bhuj. He assured that the Modi government is working day and night to ensure soldiers face minimal hardship, and that budgetary constraints have not been an obstacle.

Quadrangular Security Grid

In what could be a major shift in India’s border defence philosophy, Shah announced a new doctrine that goes beyond conventional border patrolling. “In the 60th year of the BSF’s establishment, a decision has been taken to completely transform the BSF’s concept of border security. We will establish a quadrangular security grid, a new concept of territorial security to replace the traditional approach of mere border security. This initiative will entail a primary responsibility shared among the public, civil administration, the local police, and the military, alongside BSF personnel,” he said.

Shah said the Smart Border Security Project is already underway, involving an investment running into thousands of crores. The project will deploy drones, radars, watchtowers, and state-of-the-art technology. “Once established, no one will dare to breach our borders,” he added.

West Bengal Border Fencing

Turning to India’s eastern frontier, Shah said the most significant gap in the country’s security grid has been the incomplete fencing along the West Bengal border, a problem he said is now being addressed. “The moment our government was formed in West Bengal, a years-long deadlock was broken. In just one week of assuming office, the Chief Minister took a decision in principle to allocate land for border fencing, and some land has already been handed over. Once the fencing is completed, we will succeed in curbing infiltration,” he said.

Shah added that technological fencing is also being expedited in forested regions and along riverine channels to prevent infiltration through those routes.

The Home Minister also announced that a centre has been established in Banaskantha, Gujarat, to help the public understand the work of BSF personnel. More than 2.5 lakh people have visited the centre in just the past month, and an online feedback form has been made available to citizens nationwide.

Shah concluded by saying that deliberations are underway to assign additional areas of responsibility to the BSF, with plans to further enhance facilities for personnel through technology.

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Shoaibur Rahman

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