The Border Security Force (BSF) is India's border guarding organisation at its borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) of India, and was raised in the wake of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 "for ensuring the security of the borders of India and for related matters".
The Border Security Force (BSF) has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since it’s raising from the Indian Police Service. The Border Security Force (BSF) has grown exponentially from 25 battalions in 1965, to 192 battalions with an authorized strength of 270,363 personnel including an expanding air wing, marine wing, an artillery regiment, and specialized units.
ROLE OF BSF
Security of Border Lines of India & matters connected therewith.
DURING PEACE TIME -:
- Guarding India - Pakistan border and India- Bangladesh border.
- Promote a sense of security among the people living in the border areas.
- Prevent trans border crimes, unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India.
- Prevent smuggling and any other illegal activity.
DURING WAR TIME -:
- Holding ground in less threatened sectors so long as the main attack does not develop in a particular sector and it is felt that the local situation is within the capability of BSF to deal with.
- The BSF units can continue to remain deployed in particular sector even in a war situation to release the Army for offensive tasks.
- In the even of a major attack developing, which is not within the capacity of the BSF to deal with, the Army can be expected either to reinforce the BSF with Artillery or other support, or relieve the BSF from its role in the particular sector.
- Protection of vital installations particular air-fields against enemy commandoes/para troopers or raids. The role can be entrusted to the BSF Units which are placed under the Army's operational Control.
- Providing extension to the flanks of main defence line by the holding of strong points in conjunction with other units.
- Limited Aggressive action against para military or irregular forces of the enemy within the overall plan of the Armed Forces .
- Performing special tasks connected with intelligence including raids. These are tasks which might be entrusted to BSF Units by the Army in a war situation according to local necessity. It would, however, be expected that the state of training and equipment of the particular BSF Units would be kept in view in assessing their adequacy for the tasks.
- Acting as guides in an area of responsibility where routes are known. This is a task which the BSF should be able to perform.
- Maintenance of law and order in enemy territory administrated under the control of Army. Normally, ordinary civil police force would be utilised for this task but the BSF could be used to supplement the civil police or to act in lieu thereof in a situation where civil police is not readily available.
- Provision of escorts.
- Guarding of prisoners of war cages.
- Assistance in control of refugees. It is the intention to utilise civil police force and armed Home Guards etc.for these tasks but again depending upon local exigencies, the BSF might be entrusted with these tasks.
- Anti - infiltration duties in specified area. This is an important responsibility which will have to be performed by security forces. The exact responsibility of the BSF in this matter is still under consideration and separate instructions are expected to be issued.
