Proposal to deploy BSF along Indo-Myanmar border under consideration

A proposal to deploy Border Security Force (BSF) personnel along the Indo-Myanmar border to improve security was under consideration, Union home secretary GK Pillai said.

"A final decision on whether the Indo-Myanmar border will be manned by BSF or Assam Rifles will be taken by the Union cabinet," Pillai told PTI during his three-day visit to Shillong.

India shares a 1640km-long border with Myanmar manned by Assam Rifles and the dense forests in most parts make the border porous and vulnerable.

Most of the posts of Assam Rifles are located well inside Indian territory and only a handful of posts are located near the zero line, which makes it easier for the insurgents camping in Myanmar to sneak into India easily, the sources said.

BSF is currently responsible for guarding the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangla border, with some battalions also deployed in Maoist-hit areas in central and eastern India and anti-insurgency operations in the Northeast.

Assam Rifles was entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the border with Myanmar in 2002 and at that time, the strength of the force was 30 battalions.

Gradually, the strength of the force has been increased to 46 battalions. Twenty more battalions are being raised by the force, the country's oldest paramilitary force.