BSF Celebrates 57th Raising Day In Glorious Service To The Nation.

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Border Security Force was raised in the aftermath of 1965 War. It came into existence on 01^st Dec 1965 with 25 Battalions drawn from the State Armed Police Forces of some of the bordering States and entrusted with responsibilities of ensuring security on India’s borders. Since then, BSF has been growing in its stature and role. Besides, defending the country borders, it has also been entrusted with multifarious other responsibilities in the field of national security including in Counter Insurgency, Counter Terrorism, Anti-Naxal Operations, United Nation sponsored Peace Keeping Mission, Rescue and Relief Operations during National Calamities and various other duties. With the sanctioned strength of almost 2.6 lacs manpower in 192 Battalions, BSF has emerged as the largest Border Guarding Force in the world.

Border Security Force is presently guarding 6,386.36 Kms of International Border on both Indo-Pak border and Indo- Bangladesh border. It has played a critical role in containing terrorism and infiltration in the disturbed states of Punjab and J&K in the past. For last more than 10 years, it has also been playing a critical role in Counter Insurgency Operations in the State of Manipur and other States of North Eastern Region. Similarly, it has also been deployed for last 10 years on Anti-Naxal Operational duties in the States of Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

The core duties and responsibilities of Border Security Force is to guard the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders. It has been entrusted with specific roles during Peace time as well as in the War time during both of which it acts as the “First line of Defence”. Its peace time responsibilities included providing a sense of security amongst the people living in the bordering areas, to prevent cross-border crimes and to check smuggling and other illegal activities. During war time, it takes the responsibility of thwarting every evil move of the enemy by working shoulder to shoulder with Army. During all major border conflicts with Pakistan in the past it has played a commendable role.

During the Indo-Pak war in 1971, BSF took part in several operations both in the pre-war period as well as during the period when the full-fledged war broke out on both Western and Eastern theatre. In fact, Border Security Force had started its operations on the Eastern front much before the actual war broke out in the month of Dec 1971. The Border Security Force had trained and organized the “MuktiBahini” and participated in several combat operations in close coordination with those “MuktiYodhas”. BSF had established 5 different training Camps at Simna, Kathulia, Bagafa, Patharkandi&Asharambari in the State of Tripura where some 2,150 MuktiYodhaswere imparted with Guerrilla Warfare training. BSF had also secretly set up a “Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra” in Agartala during this period.

In the final stage of full scale war, BSF had fought soldier to solider with Army in which 23 BSF Battalions had taken part in the War Operations and some 125 of its brave soldiers were martyred, 392 were injured and 132 went missing. The BSF warriors of 1971 war were suitably honoured with 01 MahaVir Chakra, 01 Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and 11 Vir Chakras, 46 Army Medals, 05 Vishisht Seva Medal & 63 other Awards and 12 BSF Officers &jawans were honored as ‘War Heroes’. The contribution of BSF in the Liberation of Bangladesh was highly appreciated by the then Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi and the founding father of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In order to remember the yeoman services rendered by BSF in the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, BSF has been celebrating 50^th Golden Jubilee year of Liberation of Bangladesh by organizing yearlong special programmes starting from 16^th Dec 2020, which will culminate on 16^th Dec 2021. During this period, rich tributes were paid to martyrs of 1971 War and their family members on several occasions. Several other programmes were also organized in co-ordination with counterpart BGB, notable amongst them were the Maitree Cycle Rally which covered 4,097 Kms including 856 Kms in the border of Tripura, Maitree Football match conducted in between BSF and BGB at Belonia, various other joint Cultural Programmes, Sports Events, Photo Exhibitions, Marathon runs, Fit India Freedom Run- 2.0 etc.

BSF Tripura Ftr has also contributed towards national campaign “AzadiKa Amrit Mahostav” being celebrated by Govt of India throughout the country. The “Swarnim Vijay Mashaal (Victory Flame)” which was lit by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 16 Dec 2020 from National War Memorial Delhi and came to the State of Tripura during first week of Nov 2021. BSF Tripura Frontier organized special programmes at ICP Agartala and other places to receive the flame and honour of War Veterans.

Achievements of Tripura Frontier in last one year

( 01 Dec 2020 to 29 Nov 2021)

BSF Tripura Frontier has been making all out efforts to contain the insurgency activities in the State of Tripura both independently as well as in close co-ordination with other security agencies deployed in the State. During this year so far, two senior active insurgents of NLFT (BM) have returned to the mainstream after serving in the outfit for more than 20 years. One of them is Self-Styled Lieutenant JaibaKalai @ LitanJamatia @ Chalai who surrendered before BSF Tripura Frontier on 18^th Oct 2021 whereasanother Self-Styled Captain Rana Bahadur Debbarma @ Roaja @ Hemchang surrendered before BSF Tripura on 09^th Nov 2021. It is worth mentioning here that in the past few years 25 NLFT members including the above two members have surrendered before BSF Tripura i.e. 05 Insurgents in Year 2017, 12 Insurgents in Year 2018, 03 Insurgents in the Year 2019, 03 Insurgents in 2020 & 02 Insurgents in 2021.
BSF Tripura Frontier has been entrusted with the primary responsibility of guarding of 856 Kms of International Border in the State of Tripura. In-spite of facing of several challenges like Adverse Climatic Conditions, Remote &Inhospitable Topography, PF Malaria Epidemic prone Zone in the Eastern parts of the State besides other challenges in the other parts of the State, BSF has been successfully discharging its duties maintaining strict vigil on the borders, checking trans-border crimes and preventing the smuggling activities. During this period of past one year, huge catch of contraband articles including narcotics, drugs, cattle etc. have been seized by Frontier HQ BSF Tripura, as noted below:-
- Narcotics worth Rs.12,94,36,908 /-, which includes Yaba tablets-60,812 Nos,Phensedyl/Eskuff Syrup-30,070 Nos, Ganja-12,067.04 Kgs, Liquor-8,351Bottles etc.
- Cattle –2,288 Nos worth Rs.2,34,58,050/-.
- Assorted contraband items worth Rs.15,98,35,456/- MAKING A GRAND TOTAL OF RS.31,27,30,414/-
- Destruction of 42,84,269Nos of Mature / Immature Ganja Saplings worth Rs.7,76,65,000/-. This includes joint efforts with State Police, State Forest Department as well as independent actions by BSF.
Due to high degree of alertness, BSF Tripura has also been able to intercept and apprehend 208 intruders attempting illegal crossing of International Border which includes115 Indian Nationals and 93 Bangladeshi Nationals.
During this period, BSF has also got itself involved in various Civic Action programmes in the remote border areas involving local population and spent an amount of Rs.98,09,280/-in various social activities like training of local youths in preparation for recruitment in Security Forces, providing some sport kits to the youths, potable water supply equipment, water storage facilities, etc.
BSF has also been maintaining very cordial and friendly relationship with its counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at every level of hierarchy. Regular interaction is being carried out at every level from Coy Comdr level upto IG level. Last such highest level meeting took place recently between IG BSF and Region BGB from 27^thto 29^th Nov 2021 at Frontier HQ BSFShillong, Meghalaya where several issues related to border management, insurgency & developmental projects on bordering areas were discussed in a friendly and cordial atmosphere and attempts made to address them. Similarly, BSF has been regularly carrying out various sports, cultural and other social welfare activities involving the local population living in the bordering areas in order to maintain healthy & cordial relationship with them.
BSF is committed for its duties and responsibilities as a professional border guarding force, simultaneously maintaining healthy and friendly relationship with counterpart Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), local civil administration, general population of bordering areas and all sections of the society.