JAMMU: More than 400 Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have died in anti-insurgency operations and encounters with militants in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh.
In the Kashmir Valley alone, over 108 BSF men have lost their lives and over 390 others have been wounded in militancy-related incidents over the last two years, Director-General of the BSF Anantachari said here on Sept.27.
The BSF chief visited the hill districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah, where pro-Pakistan militants have intensified their activities and killed several policemen.
He said that combing operations by paramilitary forces were on to flush out the armed militants; However, he could not say how many militants had so far been captured by the Doda Ben.
Anantachari said that the BSF and the CRPF had registered many successes despite difficult terrain and weather conditions.
Asked about the overall situation in the Valley, the BSF chief replied “There is a sense of confidence among the paramilitary forces in Kashmir now,
The seizure of large number of firearms by the security forces has reduced the number of attacks on our men. Till recently 30 to 40 attacks were made by militants daily.”
He was hopeful of restricting insurgency and the infiltration of men and arms across the Jammu border to the bare minimum after the completion of a barbed wire fence along the Line of Control in Jammu.
It will be floodlit as is the case in Punjab and Rajasthan.
Anantachari denied that innocent people were being killed in the Kashmir Valley. He pointed out that strict instructions had already been issued to BSF jawans to avoid firing in crowded places even if militants fire upon them.
He said he did not know if any pro-Pakistan militants had died in BSF custody.
He, however, pointed out that sometimes security personnel make mistakes because of continuous pressure and a constant threat to their lives.
Anantachari said that the BSF was deployed in over 4,000 square km of border area and so far it had shown a dedication to duty.
Efforts are being made to raise more BSF battalions, in addition to the existing 147, to give representation to those states where few persons had joined the force so far.
The BSF chief said that 602 spies, Smugglers and extremists has been arrested in the Jammu region up to September 25 this year and 19 militants had been killed while crossing the border illegally.
Meanwhile, the BSF personnel have seized 67 rifles and pistols, 79 grenades and a large quantity of other arms,
Article extracted from this publication >> October 9, 1992
