Annual Report 2002-03 of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

15. The proper management of International Borders is vitally important for national security. In addition to the problems, which are common to all the borders, each border has a variety of problems which need to be appropriately and specifically addressed. These problems have become aggravated in recent times with Pakistan’s policy of cross border terrorism, along with its intense hostile anti-India propaganda designed to mislead and sway the loyalties of border population. The management of borders presents many challenging problems since it implies coordination and concerted action by political leadership and administrative, diplomatic, security, intelligence, legal, regulatory and economic agencies of the country to secure our frontiers and subserve its best interests.
16. The Group of Ministers in its report on National Security System (Chapter on Border Management) has made several recommendations relating to effective management of the land and coastal borders including the air space over a wide range of issues such as effective monitoring and surveillance of illegal cross border activities deployment and restructuring of the Border Guarding Forces, all round development of border areas, issues relating to illegal immigration and subversive activities in the border areas etc. The Government has decided to implement the recommendations of Group of Ministers. A separate Division on Border Management has already been created in the Ministry in pursuance of this decision in order to pay focused attention to the issues relating to border management.
17. The Government is seized of a variety of issues relating to the management of its land and coastal borders. Border specific issues pertaining to Indo- Bangladesh, Indo-Nepal, Indo-Pakistan, Indo-Myanmar, India-China and Indo-Bhutan borders and others are now receiving focused attention.

Vigilance Along The International Borders

Indo-Pak border

18. As a part of strategy worked out to check infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of arms, ammunition and other anti-national activities from across the Indo-Pak border, the Government has undertaken fencing and flood lighting of this border. The fencing and flood lighting works in the entire Punjab and Rajasthan sectors, except some gaps in riverine areas in Punjab and shifting sand dune areas in Rajasthan, have already been completed.
19. With the sealing of Punjab and Rajasthan borders, terrorists/smugglers have been trying to use the. Gujarat border as one of the alternative routes for supply of weapons and infiltration of terrorists. In order to check such anti-national activities, Government has approved a comprehensive proposal for fencing, flood lighting on a raised embankment, link roads, Border Out Posts and border roads in Gujarat. The work is under progress and the entire project is targeted to be completed by the year 2004-2005.
20. The Government also undertook fencing and flood lighting in 180 kms and 195.8 kms, respectively, of the Jammu international border. The fencing work commenced during end of the year 2000. Pakistan has been resorting to regular firing on the border to obstruct the work of fencing and flood lighting. Since the work of erection of fencing, being executed, is in the direct line of Pakistani firing, it has been decided to construct a 12 feet high protective bund in front of fencing to shield the workers.
21. The status of progress of fencing and flood lighting on the Indo-Pak border is indicated in the table.

FENCING

Name of the State	Total length of border (in kms)	Total length of border to be fenced (in kms)	Length of the border fenced so far (in kms)	Remaining length of the border proposed to be fenced (in kms)	Year of completion
Punjab	554	452	452	---	Work completed
Rajasthan	1035	1035	1048.27*	---	Work completed
Jammu & Kashmir	210	180	30	150	2005
Gujarat	408	310	54	256	2005

(*Length is more due to topographical factors/alignment of fencing)

FLOODLIGHTING

Name of the State	Total length of border (in kms)	Total length of border to be floodlit (in kms)	Length of the floodlit so far (in kms)	Remaining length of the border proposed to be floodlit (in kms)	Year of completion
Punjab	554	460	460	---	Work completed
Rajasthan	1035	1022.80	1022.80	---	Work completed
Jammu & Kashmir	210	195.80	15	180.80	2005

Indo-Bangladesh border

22. In order to check the infiltration and cross border smuggling from across the Bangladesh border, Government of India has sanctioned the construction of border roads and fence in two phases to facilitate border patrolling by Border Security Force.

The work under Phase-I is in advanced stage of completion. Fencing in 854.354 Kms has been erected as against the approved target of 857.37 Kms. Similarly 2572.525 Kms of road has been constructed as against 2866.38 Kms sanctioned. In Phase-II, Government has approved the additional items of work which include construction of 797 Kms of road and 2429.5 Kms of additional fencing at a total cost of Rs.1334 crore. The entire work is targeted to be completed by the year 2007.

23. The progress of work of fencing and border roads was slow because the BSF had certain operational difficulties with the existing design of fencing in low-lying areas in West Bengal Sector as some portion of the fencing remained submerged under water for better part of the year. A Review Committee under the Ministry of Home Affairs has examined these issues and recommended modified design of fencing in accordance with the topography of the area. In Tripura Sector, road alignment was presenting operational difficulties due to its distance from the border. It has been decided that the Indo-Bangladesh Border roads identified by the Border Security Force as not useful for the purpose of border patrolling in the Tripura sector would be networked with the fence through a series of link roads and provision for patrol track along side the fence in these stretches would also be made.
24. The status of progress of fencing, roads and bridges, State-wise and phase-wise, is given below: property ownership and participation in trade and commerce. The openness of this border has been exploited by the Pak-ISI for subversive activities against India. The Maoist upsurge in Nepal and its links with left wing extremist groups in India add to the threat to our internal security from this border.

Phase-I

	(Fence & Roads in Km, Bridges in meters)
Name of States	Project contents	Progress as on date
WEST BENGAL
Road	1770.00	1565.00
Bridge	12562.00	14129.00
Fence	507.00	507.00
ASSAM
Road	186.33	176.065
Bridge	4683.00	4497.400
Fence	152.31	149.294
MEGHALAYA
Road	211.29	211.29
Bridge	1479.73	1479.73
Fence	198.06	198.06
TRIPURA
Road	545.37	467.40
Bridge	1914.23	1458.33
MIZORAM
Road	153.40	152.77
Bridge	1078.64	876.64
TOTAL
ROADS	2866.39 kms	2572.525 kms
BRIDGES	21939.26 mtrs	22441.10 mtrs
FENCE	857.37 kms	854.354 kms

Phase-II

	(Fence & Roads in Km, Bridges in meters)
Name of State	Project contents	Progress as on date
WEST BENGAL
Fence	1021.00	67.10
ASSAM
Road	77.50	12.93
Bridge	300.00	-
Fence	71.50	-
MEGHALAYA
Road	204.00	10.38
Bridge	2027.00	-
Fence	201.00	1.66
TRIPURA
Road	269.00	-
Bridge	200.00	-
Fence	736.00	9.53
MIZORAM
Road	246.50	4.12
Bridge	1535.00	210.60
Fence	400.00	-
TOTAL
ROADS	797.00 kms	27.43 kms
BRIDGES	4062.00 mtrs	210.60 mtrs

 

Indo-Nepal border

25. The status of, and the arrangements for, the 1751 km long India-Nepal International Border are governed by bilateral treaties. The Indo-Nepal treaty of peace and friendship, 1950 provides for an open border, allowing free crossŒborder movement of Nepali and Indian nationals and granting equal opportunities to the nationals of either country in matters of employment, residence, property ownership and participation in trade and commerce. The openness of this border has been exploited by the Pak-ISI for subversive activities against India. The Maoist upsurge in Nepal and its links with left wing extremist groups in India add to the threat to our internal security from this border.
26. In order to check the anti-national activities on the Indo-Nepal border, it has been decided to deploy the Special Services Bureau as a Border Guarding Force on this border. The deployment of SSB battalions is underway.

Indo-Bhutan border

27. Indo-Bhutan border is 699 Kms. long and passes through the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Sikkim. This border is characterized by a free movement regime for Indian and Bhutanese citizens. The terrain is difficult being mountainous, having thick vegetation and criss-crossed by streams. The infrastructure on both side of the border is inadequate. Communication in the area is poor due to lack of adequate road network. The area on the Bhutanese side has become a sanctuary for Indian insurgent groups particularly United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) who have established camps in Bhutanese territories.
28. The difficult terrain of this border is exploited by Indian insurgent groups who seek shelter in Bhutan. There are reports of Indian insurgents using camps in Bhutanese territory for seeking shelter after carrying out anti-national activities.
29. In order to curb the movement of Indian insurgent groups using Bhutan as a base/sanctuary, it has been decided, in principle to deploy a Border Guarding Force along border.

Strengthening the security of creek areas of Gujarat sector

30. An action plan for strengthening the security of the creek area of Gujarat sector has been finalized. The action plan includes raising of additional battalions, augmentation of the air wing of Border Security Force, operationalization of Central Operations Room at Bhuj, Construction of Observation Post Tower-cum-Light House at the mouth of Pir Sinai Creek, hydrographic survey of the Sir Creek area etc. It is also proposed to deploy six floating Border Out Posts with speed boats for patrolling the area and to check the infiltration and smuggling activities from across the border. The first set of three Border Out Posts is expected to be operational by the end of December, 2002.

Deployment Of Hi-Tech Electronic Surveillance Equipments On The Border

31. The Group of Ministers has stressed the need for making greater use of high-technology systems and equipments to counter cross border challenges. It is proposed to deploy a suitable mix and class of various types of surveillance equipments on the International Borders of the country which would act as a force multiplier for effective border management. A High Level Group, constituted to examine the technical suitability of various types of equipments available, has finalized its Report. It is proposed to deploy a combination of different types of surveillance equipments like Night Vision Devices, Hand Held Thermal Imagers, Sensors etc. backed by an effective communication and command & control systems which would greatly enhance the border monitoring system.

Coordination For Border Management

Constitution of State Level Standing Committee and Joint Task Force by the border States including Coastal States

32. 32 The Group of Minister had recommended the constitution of State level Standing Committee and Joint Task Forces in each of the States touching the land border and the seacoast for the purpose of coordinating functions and issues relating to management of borders including control over illegal cross border activities. In pursuance of this recommendation, State Governments and Union territory Administrations, except the States of Goa, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Uttranchal, Orissa, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh, have constituted the Standing Committees and Joint Task Forces comprising of representative of all intelligence and security agencies. This mechanism will facilitate greater coordination between the various security and intelligence agencies to curb anti-national activities on the border. Lead Intelligence Agencies
33. Keeping in view the need for ensuring the effectiveness of the intelligence agencies operating in the border areas, the Group of Ministers, in its report on. Reforming the National Security System, has recommended that the intelligence wing on the Principal Border Guarding Force deployed in the border should be the Lead Intelligence Agency(LIA) for that border. The LIAs have been made responsible for coordinating the activities of other agencies operating in their border segment of the border and sharing actionable intelligence with the concerned agencies.

Measures To Check Religious Fundamentalism

34. The Group of Ministers has highlighted the problem of indiscriminate growth of places of religious worship and instruction along the international border and their misuse for fundamentalist and other anti-national activities. There is evidence to show that this growth is not merely on account of religious zeal but is a part of a larger design to soften our borders and subvert the border population. In order to maintain vigilance and prevent the misuse of places of worship, all the State Governments, having international borders, land or coastal, have been advised to coordinate intelligence to identify places of worship indulging in anti-national activities. The Central Government is also considering the feasibility of enactment of a Central legislation to regulate the activities of places of worship and religious instructions. Further, State Governments have been advised to take action against religious institutions whose activities are in contravention of the provisions of Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988.

Strengthening of Coastal Security

35. India has a coastline of 5422 kms touching 9 States and 4 Union territories. India also has an additional coast line of 2094 kms in a total of 1197 islands The new regime of the oceans enacted under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in 1982 has greatly expanded India's jurisdiction as a coastal State through the concept of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Continental Shelf. Coastal Security, therefore, is a matter requiring priority attention in the context of our internal security concerns. The Group of Ministers in its Report on Reforming the National Security System has observed that little has been done over the years to understand or take action to create the infrastructure for the protection of India’s vast coastal areas. Besides, large scale poaching operations, the country’s coast line is also vulnerable to infiltration by illegal migrants, smuggling, narco trafficking and also to clandestine cross border transit and landing of the contrabands like arms and ammunitions, explosives etc.
36. With a view to have uniformity in approach to the steps to be taken by the State Governments for establishing matching security system, concerned State Governments have been asked to formulate perspective plans of action for strengthening coastal security and surveillance keeping in view the following indicative parameters:

1. Strengthening the existing infrastructure for policing and patrolling in the coastal area.
2. Identifying the sensitive stretches of coasts in terms of their actual vulnerability and establish police stations/outposts in those stretches. These police stations/police outposts may be suitably equipped with vehicles, boats, communication equipments and weapons.
3. Creating a Marine Police Cell/Wing in the Coastal Police Stations by developing teams with sea/water faring skills.
4. Creating separate intelligence capabilities in the coastal police stations for gathering intelligence on coastal security like smuggling, landing of contrabands, illegal migration, entry of unidentified vessels/ persons, subversive activities etc..

15. Further, the Coast Guard has been requested to prepare a model Manual on Coastal Security. The Coast Guard has also been requested to undertake an exercise to standardize the specifications of boats and equipments which would be suitable for the purpose of coastal patrolling by the State Governments keeping in view their jurisdiction in the coastal waters.