In News
- The Border Security Force is celebrating its 57th Raising Day on 1 December.
Border Security Force (BSF)
- About:
- It is India’s border guarding forces along the borders of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Administrative Control: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
- Purpose: It was raised in the wake of the 1965 War on 1 December 1965 as India’s first line of defence for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for matters connected therewith.
- Deployment: On-Line of Control (LoC) along with Indian Army and in Anti-Naxal Operations.
- Officials: The BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
- Jurisdiction Powers of BSF:
- Section 139: It empowers the Center to notify from time to time the area and extent of operation of the Border Security Force.Â
- Under the BSF Act, Section 139 (ii) gives sweeping powers of arrest to BSF.Â
- It has powers of preventive arrest under Section 139 (1) & posts offence arrest under section 139 (ii).Â
- No mention of consultation with local police.Â
- New Notification:
- As per the new notification, BSF officers will be able to conduct arrests and searches in West Bengal, Punjab, and Assam.Â
- BSF has got the right to take this action under:
- the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC),Â
- the Passport Act 1967, andÂ
- the Passport (Entry to India) Act 1920.
- BSF has got the right to take this action under:
- The BSF will have the powers of search, seizure, and arrest under Acts like Passport Act, NDPS Act, and Customs Act.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) up to 50 km inside the international borders in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
- As per the new notification, BSF officers will be able to conduct arrests and searches in West Bengal, Punjab, and Assam.Â
Source: PIB
