The Centre’s move to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) to a wider belt along the borders of the three states.
According to an order of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the jurisdiction of the BSF in West Bengal, Punjab and Assam will be increased from 15 km to 50 km within and along the border. After this order, the BSF can arrest, search and seizure in the area by suppressing the powers of the state police in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Pathankot. The Golden Temple is about 35 km from the Attari border with Pakistan. Reacting to the decision, the Punjab Chief Minister tweeted, “I strongly condemn the unilateral decision of the government to give additional powers to the BSF within 50 km of the international borders, which is a direct attack on federalism. I urge Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately withdraw this irrational decision.”
Also Read – Jurisdiction of the BSF in West Bengal, Punjab and Assam will be increased from 15 km to 50 km
The BSF has now clarified reason of extention of the jurisdiction of the security force to a 50 km belt along the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. They said the decision was taken to “give uniformity to the jurisdiction” across the states.
In an official statement, the BSF said the step was taken to “give uniformity to jurisdiction” and that the “amendment” will aid the border-guarding force in effectively curbing trans-border crimes.
“The amendment will aid the border guarding force in effectively curbing trans-border crimes and the new amendment brings in “uniformity” for its operations in the border states of Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Assam where it can now operate within a 50 kms area from the border,” the BSF said.
