Sanjiv Krishan Sood retired as Additional Director General, Border Security Force (BSF) – a rank most CAPF cadre officers can’t even dream of wearing. But despite reaching such heights, he remains humble and grounded and has bult a reputation as a reliable and trustworthy leader. Here is the last of the two part interview with NEERAJ MAHAJAN
Part # 1: ‘Recruitment rules are such that no cadre officer can rise beyond the ADG level’ – Sanjeev Sood
PART 2
How do you ensure effective coordination and synergy between BSF and IPS officers, especially in joint operations?
The IPS officers are mainly at the supervisory levels. The operations are planned by operational commanders who are Cadre officers. However, many a times when the supervisory IPS officer interfers too much, or overrules the ground level commanders it leads to setbacks like the ones seen in Chhatisgarh over the last decade. This doesn’t normally happen with supervisory officer who belongs to the cadre because they are aware of ground conditions and resources available with the operational forces.
What are the biggest challenges faced by BSF personnel in terms of working conditions, infrastructure, and support systems at the borders?
The biggest challenge that the troops face at ground level face is long working hours due to the necessity of continuous vigil at the borders. At times non availability of adequate technological support and zero error syndrome also leads to this situation. Often the technology being inducted is not user friendly and the troops are not provided adequate training in handling the equipment being inducted.
Lack of infrastructure at the Border Out Poste (BOPs) and additional administrative commitments also deprive the troops of well needed rest. There is shortage of accommodation at BOPs as well as at headquarters. This is so because the development of infrastructure has not kept pace with expansion of the force. All this leads to lot of stress among the troops as well as large number of premature retirements and suicides.
How do you view the current BSF rules in terms of their relevance to modern border security challenges?
The BSF Rules do not regulate the border guarding efforts. The BSF act and Rules mainly relate to administration and discipline in the force personnel. The Government however has through notifications extended the powers to the BSF under the aegis of the Customs, Passport, Immigration, CRPC, Drugs and Narcotics Substances Acts to enable border guarding efforts.
Are there specific areas within the BSF rules that you believe need urgent amendment to address contemporary security threats and operational dynamics?
The notification issued by the Government extending the jurisdiction of BSF to areas 50 Kms inside the International Border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam needs to be relooked. This is an impractical order because BSF doesn’t have either the resources or training to carry out policing jobs. The notification also has the potential for conflict with local Police because Law and Order is a Police matter.
What role does technology and modernization play in redefining BSF’s operational framework?
The technology inducted should be user friendly and not vendor driven. It must facilitate rest and relief to the troops while enhancing the quality of border guarding.
How are border guarding forces in other countries structured and managed compared to India’s BSF?
The border guarding forces of Bangladesh and Pakistan are structured along the lines of BSF. However, their officering is by the Army Officers. Very little is known about the Chinese border guard except that they operate under the control of PLA. In the west, only a few countries like Poland have regular border guarding force. Most such countries deploy the Armies for border guarding. The US Border Patrol operates mostly from choke points and on speciifc information unlike BSF which maintains a string of BOPs along the border.
Are there best practices that India can learn from international border security forces to enhance BSF’s effectiveness?
We should induct technology that is user friendly and enables better rest and relief to troops. We also need to ensure that illegal migration and trans-border crime is controlled effectively.
How do other countries treat their border guarding agencies — both while in service and after retirement and try to keep the brave hearts happy?
Very little is known about the issue. However, the systems adopted in Pakistan and Bangladesh are more or less similar to that of India. Most of the countries in west do not employ border guards as a life time profession. They are released after certain years of service and take on other professions.
Are any special benefits offered to BSF persons in India both while in service and after retirement?
A BSF person recruited before 2004 is eligible to pension besides the facility of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and Central Police Canteens (CPS) where they can purchase things at prices lower than civil. BSF persons recruited after 2004 are eligible for New Pension Scheme besides the facilities of CGHS and CPC.
What is your vision for the future of the BSF, especially in the context of emerging security threats like cyber warfare and drone technology?
BSF must invest in technology to meet the emerging challenges of Drones, IEDs and Tunnels. The force already has a cell to monitor Cyber activities which needs to be strengthened further.
BSF must have an perspective planning cell to anticipate emerging threats in advance and plan the training and technological interventions needed to counter these challenges.
BSF must have a close look at the training and make it more vibrant to suit the requirements of the emerging challenges. The training must include essential soft skills required for regular interaction with civilians at the fencing gates.
BSF must also not ignore its role to support the Army in times of war. This calls for proper coordination and mechanism in place to familiarise troops about their war time role – both at the headquarters and the field formations. This training should be conducted on ground in coordination with local Army Commanders.
BSF must also evolve a robust personnel management system to ensure that the individual aspirations are met without compromising with the force’s operational efficiency.
The induction of women in the force has added an additional challenge in terms of personnel management. The Force now needs to evolve mixed gender personnel policies so that proper utilisation of women troops is done in order to enhance operational efficiency.
BSF must adopt less intrusive border guarding systems in order to fulfil its most important role to ‘promote a sense of security amongst the people living in the border areas’
How do you see the role of BSF evolving in the next decade?
The role of BSF is likely to see a sea change with more and more development in the border areas which will lead to reduction in trans-border crimes. BSF must flexibly adapt to meet these changing operational challenges and adopt less aggressive and intrusive operational methodology. This will require induction of less lethal weapons – a process which has already begun.
The BSF must adopt a role of eyes and ears of the Government in remote border areas. AS the only visible symbol of the authority of Government in far flung areas it would be expected to project the problems of Border Residents. It must also identify and project infrastructure requirements for development of border areas
BSF is likely to witness continued involvement in Internal Security because of myriad problems that the country faces. It must therefore keep training for this aspect. The force also must ensure that its operational and supervisory leaders are aware of geostrategic issues both within the country and outside the country in order to remain prepared for the eventuality of deployment in those areas.
In my opinion the country is less likely to see a conventional war with Pakistan or Bangladesh where BSF is deployed because of nuclear overhang, and paucity of resources for a prolonged war effort. However, the possibility of localised conflicts can not be ruled out. BSF therefore must keep preparing for the war effort.
What has been the most fulfilling part of your career in the BSF?
I have enjoyed all my assignments. However, the most fulfilling were command of my Unit and Frontier North Bengal, besides command of the two training centres and Command of Tactical wing of the BSF Academy where I could apply my ideas for the benefit of the force. I was also fortunate to have excellent teams of officers wherever I was posted. I encouraged discussions to elicit various views and implemented the ideas after considering all pros and cons and due adjustments.
If you could change one thing about the current border security framework, what would it be?
I think the border security framework is fairly robust. However, involvement of Cadre officers in policy making will further refine the systems and make them more responsive towards the border residents as well as the troops. The methodology of border guarding must evolve into border management in practical terms and not as a rhetorical pronouncement.
Very informative interview covering most of the relevant issues. Thanks for your efforts.