CHANDIGAR, India: The Punjab government is examining the feasibility of issuing laminated identity cards to the villagers in the border areas of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts to check infiltration from across the international border with Pakistan and also other trans-border crime.
The proposal was in fact mooted a pilot project by the Union government earlier this year for
The Border States. While, the Rajasthan government has already taken steps to implement it in four tehsils, the Barnala government in Punjab putting the cold storage for fear that it might be resented by the villagers. The move has now been revised following afresh communication from the Union government, The Punjab Home Department has asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the three border districts to send feasibility re Ports and cost estimates, Meanwhile, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur and two Superintendents of Police (SPs) of the State have been asked to go to Rajasthan and see the operation of the scheme.
In Rajasthan the scheme is being implemented in the border districts of Sri Ganganagar, Bikner, and Barmerand Jaisalmer. Sours say the scheme has been almost implemented in Karanpur tehsil in Sri Ganganagar district. In Punjab, to start with, the scheme is likely to be implemented in the border villages of Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Batala, Ajnala, Patti, Tam Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka tehsil
It has been estimated that the Cost of issuing laminated identity cards with photograph of the bearer will come to Rs.30 per head. Al It he adult males and females over 16 years of age in the villages falling within 15 km of the border are proposed to be covered under the scheme, The entire cost of the scheme will be borne by the Central Government. A Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry is monitoring the progress of the scheme in the Border States. Earlier the Punjab government headed by Mr. Sugjit Singh Barnala was dithering on the implementation of the scheme apprehending a wave of anger and resentment against the security forces and the government. It felt that ‘once the scheme was implemented the people were liable to carry the: identity cards issued to them all the 1. In case the card was lost or was not being carried on person, the concerned villager could face action or arouse suspicion of security forces.
The government, however, is keen to implement it because it feels that all other creation of a security belt, were beset with even more problems. In a high-level meeting last month, which was presided over by the Governor, Mr. SS. Ray, a senior official of the Border Security Force (BSF) suggested fencing with a barbed wire of the border areas from where infiltration was taking place, many officers felt that physical fencing would be ineffective besides creating problems of maintenance of the fence. In any case as per the ground rules agreed to by the two countries, the fencing cannot be within 150 yards of the border line. It was unanimously felt that the wild growth on the border should be removed for better visibility of the patrolling parties.
Another move the Union government to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to set up its stations near the border to investigate some forms of crime, has also not taken off in Punjab. Ten Citations were proposed to be set up in Punjab along the border. Such stations are already functional in Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is learnt.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1987
