• Security Forces ready to prevent any infiltration
• Induction ceremony marked the induction of 674 recruits into BSF
• Infiltration attempts likely to rise before winter
Srinagar, Oct 11: Around 150 terrorists are stationed at launchpads along the Line of Control (LoC) and are preparing to enter Kashmir as winter approaches. However, security forces are fully prepared to stop them, said Ashok Yadav, Inspector General (IG) of the Border Security Force (BSF), on Friday. He was speaking at a ceremony for new BSF recruits in Humhama.
Yadav said that based on intelligence from various agencies, they are working with the army to strengthen security along the border. “We regularly monitor the number of terrorists at these launchpads, which varies between 130 and 150. Our goal is to stop any attempts to infiltrate, especially with winter coming,” Yadav said.
Commenting on the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Yadav praised the security forces, J&K Police, and administration for ensuring peaceful elections. “Despite several threats, our well-coordinated efforts prevented any attacks, and the elections were conducted smoothly,” he added.
With winter approaching, Yadav said there are concerns about infiltration attempts, and security forces are closely monitoring the LoC. Regarding the conflict in West Asia, Yadav said “there are no specific threats from that situation affecting Kashmir, but they are considering all possibilities in their planning.”
On the issue of drug smuggling, Yadav said it is a major source of funding for terrorism. “We’ve deployed mobile bunkers and female troopers in vulnerable areas like Tangdhar and Keran to stop the use of women as couriers for smuggling drugs. This has greatly reduced the flow of narcotics,” he said.
Yadav also spoke about the need for continuous training of soldiers, especially with new technologies. “We are using advanced surveillance equipment and training our troops to deal with threats like drones. We also use platforms like iGOT to provide specialized training to our personnel,” he explained.
Earlier in the day, a passing out parade and attestation ceremony for Recruit Batch Nos. 120, 121, 122, and 123 was held at the BSF training centre in Humhama. A total of 674 recruits officially joined the BSF after 44 weeks of tough training.
IG Yadav inspected the parade and praised the recruits for their skills and confidence. He encouraged them to serve the nation with courage and dedication. The new recruits come from various states including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
The recruits were trained in areas such as handling weapons, border management, physical fitness, and counter-terrorism. Awards were given to the top-performing recruits, and the event was attended by senior officers from the Army, Air Force, CRPF, and J&K Police, along with BSF personnel and their families.
The BSF plays a key role in guarding India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh and has grown from 25 battalions in 1965 to 193 battalions with 270,000 personnel today. The force operates under the motto “Jeevan Paryant Kartavya” (Duty until Death).
