The government took a decision that empowers the Border Security Force to carry out searches, arrests suspects, and seize up to 50 Km from Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders. Effectively, this decision also reduces the BSF jurisdiction in a few states. While there have been no changes in Rajasthan.
The move might increase administrative and political issues in the affected states, with a fresh Union home ministry order generated earlier this week allowing BSF to take action to curb illegal activities linked to national security in 10 states and 2 Union Territories.
According to the fresh mandate, the BSF, which was earlier empowered to take action only up to 15 Km in Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam, has now been authorised to spread its reach up to 50 Km.
However, this order reduces BSF reach in Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya by 30 Km. Similarly, in Gujarat, its jurisdiction has been curtailed from 80 Km to 50 Km. In Rajasthan, the jurisdiction of BSF will remain unchanged.
