Madhukar Gupta Committee: Recommendations on border protection

The Madhukar Gupta Committee on border protection has submitted its report to the Union Ministry Home Affairs (MHA).
The Committee was constituted to suggest recommendations for strengthening border protection and addressing the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing along India-Pakistan Border. It was headed by former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.
Key Facts

• The committee has examined security mechanisms of all four Indian states sharing border with Pakistan keeping in mind challenges of different climate and topography.
• It has given separate recommendations for four states as each of them has different topography and problems.
• It has flagged gaps and vulnerabilities in border fencing and suggested use of technology and heightened vigil on riverine frontiers.
• It has expressed displeasure over not installing laser walls in many infiltration-prone areas due to treacherous and marshy terrain.

Note: 4 Indian states share 3,323-km-long border with Pakistan. Of this 1,225 km falls in Jammu and Kashmir (including Line of Control), 1,037 km in Rajasthan, 553 km in Punjab and 508 km in Gujarat.
Background
The MHA had constituted this committee in April 2016 to suggest ways to address the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing. It was constituted three months after the terror attack on Pathankot IAF base in January 2016 by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists from Pakistan. These terroritst had infiltrated into India by beaching the India-Pakistan border (through porous border) in Punjab especially from the riverine stretch.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2016