Operation Sudarshan

The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a mega exercise code-named Operation Sudarshan to fortify the ‘anti-infiltration grid’ along the Pakistan border in regions of Punjab and Jammu.

The region of Jammu shares about 485-km of the sensitive international border with Pakistan and about 553-km of the front lies in Punjab.  Other states which share a border with Pakistan are Gujarat and Rajasthan.

About the Exercise

• The exercise has been named Sudarshan drawing from Sudarshan Chakra, the mythological weapon of Lord Krishna.
• The exercise was aimed at fortifying Indian defences against infiltration, unprovoked firing and Pakistan Border Action Team (BAT) attacks.
• The BSF will undertake measures to seal the front against the infiltration of terrorists and drug mules.
• BSF has asked the commanders to prepare their watchtowers and sentry posts better, replenish arms and ammunition dumps, strengthen artillery positions, check and plug border fence breaches, detect underground and cross-border tunnels and make all operational and logistical arrangements to strengthen the vigil.
• BSF will also clear ‘sarkanda’ or the elephant grass on the border is cut for better visibility against any movement on the border.
• Big earthen mounds on the International Border will be flattened. New bunkers and ‘ditch-cum-bandh’ (trenches) are being dug as part of the operation.
• BSF posts are being better armoured to tackle sniper firing incidents.
• The operation will end by the time monsoon unleashes heavy rains and cuts easy access to the forward locations.
• Based on the final report of the operation the Union Home Ministry will make sanctions to procure gadgets, equipment and infrastructure that is required to plug gaps and strengthen border management at these two fronts.

To ensure the exercise goes on smoothly the BSF had deployed personnel, a fleet of heavy and small all-terrain vehicles and fresh 4×4 vehicles on the borders for quick movement of armed troops to tackle any provocative actions across the border.