Border Security Force
The Border Security Force (BSF) was established on December 1st 1965. It is the primary force guarding the borders of India. It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces.
The force guards the land borders of India and helps prevent any kind of international/transnational aggression. The force functions under the aegis of Ministry of Home affairs and has its headquarters in New Delhi. The headquarters is called as the Force HeadQuarters (FHQ). The head of BSF is a Director General.
Background
Since independence in 1947 till the establishment of Border Security Force in 1965, India’s international borders were guarded by the local police of the respective state. It was only after the Indo- Sino war and the Indo- Pakistan wars in the early 1960s, the border security force is formed. The force started in 1965 with only a few battalions. Today, it stands as the largest border guarding force. It has 186 battalions now with a sanctioned strength of more than 2,50,000 personnel.
Key Engagements
The Border Security Force is majorly used to guard the land borders and matters connected to it. The force restricts unauthorized entry into and exits from the country. A part of the force is also given responsibility to collect trans-border intelligence.
Earlier Engagements of the force since inception include:
- The force played a key role in the 1971 Indo- Pakistani war.
- Operation Blue Star in 1984.
- Counter insurgency of Jammu and Kashmir in 1989.
- Operation Vijay- Kargil war of 1999.
- Operation Parakram in 2001-2002.
The force successfully handled various combats in the borders involving fighting against Pakistan Rangers and Bangladesh rifles.
Border Security Force with the coordination of civilians have arrested militant leaders such as Ghazi Baba. Ghazi Baba is second-in- command of Jaish- e- Mohammed and is the Master mind of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack. The force is also deployed in the red corridor areas to combat Naxalism.
The Border Security force which has been a male bastion since inception, deployed its first batch of women battalion in the border recently. The force plans to deploy as many as 595 women constables in the border eventually.
