BORDER SECURITY FORCE CELEBRATES 58TH RAISING DAY.

The Border Security Force celebrated its 58th Raising Day on 01st December' 2022. The Border Security Force was raised on 01st December' 1965 to guard India's eastern and western borders.

The BSF was constituted in the Indian Parliament on 01st December' 1965 with the specific objective of serving as the First Line of Defence against infiltration, smuggling and military attacks on Indian borders after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Before the formation of the BSF, the police forces of the Indian states deployed on the Indian borders were tasked with Border guarding. Initially the BSF was formed with a force of 25 battalions, consisting of troops from various armed police forces of the states. Now with the passage of time the strength of this force has gone up to 189 battalions with about 2.65 lakh man power, apart from this BSF also has 07 Artillery Battalion, 08 Water Wings, 01 Air Wing and 04 NDRF Battalions. It guards the Indian Border with Pakistan on the western border and with Bangladesh on the eastern Border. BSF has come a long way in the service of the nation since 1965. Since its inception, the Border Security Force as a Central Armed Force has not only secured the borders of India but also assisted the civil administration on various occasions. Its role during the 1971 war, curbing insurgency in Punjab in the decade of Eighty, Naxalism in Chhattisgarh and Odisha and against insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir tell a wonderful story of its functioning and achievements.

With the formation of BSF in 1965, its Eastern Frontier HQrs was established in Kolkata. The Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland (A M M&N) Frontier was separated from the  work area of Eastern Frontier HQrs on 03rd June' 1971 and the Eastern Frontier HQrs Kolkata was renamed as West Bengal Frontier. On 23rd April' 1988, the West Bengal Frontier was again divided into two frontier HQrs, South Bengal and North Bengal Frontier respectively. Headquarters of South Bengal Frontier was established at Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata-71 and Headquarters of North Bengal Frontier was established at Kadamtala. On 07th July' 2019, the HQrs of South Bengal Frontier was shifted from Lord Sinha Road, Kolkata-71 to its present new location, Rajarhat, New Town, Kolkata.

Raising Day was celebrated in all the HQrs and field formations of BSF. BSF Raising Day was celebrated at the premises of Frontier HQrs BSF South Bengal. On the occasion of BSF Raising Day Dr. Atul Fulzele, IPS, Inspector General, South Bengal Frontier, and senior officers of the force congratulated all the jawans and their families.

Operational achievements

During the year 2021-22, South Bengal Frontier has made remarkable achievements in the operational area. Cattle smuggling has become almost negligible due to relentless and persistent efforts of BSF jawans, apart from cross border crimes have also been curbed to a great extent. The following operational achievements have been made by the different units of South Bengal Frontier:-

Different Seizure– From 01st December' 2021 to 30th November' 2022-

(i)Total seizure value= 75,66,78,279/- rupees.

(ii)Cattle Nos.= 1,044, Price= 1,43,19,020/- rupees.

(iii)Phensedyl Bottle Nos.=2,48,823, Price= 4,84,18,010/- rupees.

(iv)Fake Indian currency notes= 3,33,500/- rupees.

(v)Gold= 97.964 Kg, Price= 50,37,41,210/- rupees.

(vi)Silver= 506.763 Kg, Price= 2,64,53,519/- rupees.

(vii)Ganja= 2849 kgs.

(viii)Narcotics= 39.382 kgs

(ix) Yaba tablets Nos.= 15374, Price= 76,87,000/- rupees.

(x)Weapons Nos.= 24

(xi)Ammunition Noa.= 13

Conducting of Historical Friendship Cycle Rally and Motorcycle Rally and Friendship Football Matches:-

(i)On the occasion of 75th Independence Day of India and 50th Anniversary of Liberation War of Bangladesh, Border Security Force organized “Maitri Cycle Rally” on Indo-Bangladesh Border, commenced on 08th December' 2021, North Bengal Frontier, Siliguri and ended at ICP Petrapole, 153 Battalion, South Bengal Frontier, Kolkata on 16th December' 2021. 15 cyclists (in which 10 men and 05 women) participated in this cycle rally.  The rally completed its journey in 08 days and covered a distance of 550 kms along Indo-Bangladesh Border via Siliguri, Bagdogra, Islampur, Kishanganj, Murshidabad, Behrampur, Beldanga, Deogram, Bethuadahri, Shantipur, Ranaghat, Kalyani and ICP Petrapole. The purpose of the rally was to create awareness among the Border people about the harm caused by drugs and to curb cross-border smuggling.

(ii)This year on 15th August' 2022, the country celebrated 'Aajadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' after completing 75 years of independence. The Border Security Force organized a motorcycle rally along the Border in a series of events to mark the occasion. 30 motorcyclists (15 men from Janbaz Motorcycle Team and 15 women riders from Bhavani Motorcycle Team) participated in the rally. The rally completed its journey in 15 days. This rally covered 07 states of the country including Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Dr. Lajja Ram Bishnoi IPS, DGP Meghalaya flagged off the motorcycle rally from Sector HQrs Shillong on 01st September' 2022 in the presence of Shri Indrajit Rana, Inspector General, Frontier HQrs Meghalaya along with senior officers of the force and hundreds of local people.

(iii)A friendly football match was played between BSF football team and BGB football team on 21st September' 2022 at Border Out Post Mahadipur, 70 Battalion, Sector HQrs Malda at Pisbari High School, Malda.  The match was inaugurated by Sector Commanders of BSF and BGB along with officers of the forces. About 4,500 people enjoyed the match. The match was won by the BSF football team by a score of 3-1.

(iv)BSF South Bengal Frontier organized a friendly football match on 7th September' 2022 in the area of ​​Border Out Post Shikarpur, 86 Battalion, Sector Berhampur. The match was won by the BSF football team by a score of 5-0.

Various activities organized by South Bengal Frontier–

(i)South Bengal Frontier conducted various activities on the Border which mainly include Medical Camp, Infrastructure, Human Resource Development, Skill Development and Civic Action Programme. South Bengal Frontier conducted a total of 289 activities in 2021–22. During this, 53,852 Border residents were benefited.

(ii)Tree Plantation Program for Green and Clean Environment- Border Security Force has always been at the forefront of protecting and conserving the environment. All sector headquarters and battalions under the South Bengal Frontier played a leading role in this operation. A tree plantation program was organized in the Border area by BSF South Bengal Frontier personnel to celebrate World Environment Day on 05th June' 2022. During these programmes, various types of saplings were planted in the Border area of ​​the battalions. South Bengal Frontier, BSF set a target of planting a total of 55,700 saplings in its area, which was also completed in given time. Along with protecting the Indian borders, the Border Security Force is also fulfilling its responsibility of keeping the environment clean.

(iii)Investiture Ceremony- Investiture ceremony was held on 19th September, 2022 at Vishwa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata in which 42 BSF personnel were awarded President's Police Medal for Meritorious Service by Shri Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, IPS, ADG (Eastern Command). Dr. Atul Fulzele, IPS, Inspector General, South Bengal Frontier welcomed the chief guest. 35 serving personnel and 07 retired members attended the ceremony to receive the medals. BSF officers, jawans and their family members were present during the investiture ceremony.

(iv)Rojgaar Mela- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi virtually addressed the selected candidates in more than 45 Rojgaar Mela organized at different places in the country and also rendered appointment letters to more than 71 thousand selected candidates. In the same sequence, on 22nd November' 2022, South Bengal Frontier, BSF also organized an Rojgaar Mela at Nazrul Shotobarshiki Hall of Madhyamgram Municipality.

(v)Inter-Frontier Football Competition– 2022- On 07th November' 2022, the 45th Border Security Force Inter-Frontier Football Competition was inaugurated by the South Bengal Frontier.  The grand event of this five-day tournament took place at Kalyani Stadium, Municipal Ground, Kalyani, 158 Battalion, BSF Football Ground, and School of Agriculture, Mohanpur.

(vi)Teacher's Day- In a series of programs organized under the 'Aajadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' on 2nd September' 2022 at 1030 hrs, South Bengal Frontier organised weapons exhibition and colorful programs of BSF band on the occasion of Teacher's Day at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Salt Lake, Haryana Vidya Mandir, Salt Lake and Lady Queen of the Mission at School, Salt Lake. 

The Border Security Force is committed round the clock to guard India's eastern and western borders as the "First Line of Defence" with its motto "Duty Unto Death".