BSF now has uniform 50 km jurisdiction to arrest, search, seize in border states

The Centre has empowered the Border Security Force to conduct searches, arrest suspects and make seizures up to 50 km from India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders. Effectively, the move reduces the BSF jurisdiction in a few states, increases in some others and makes no difference in Rajasthan.

The move might raise administrative and political issues in the affected states, with a fresh Union home ministry order issued earlier this week allowing the BSF to take action to curb illegal activities linked to national security in 10 states and two Union Territories.

As per the fresh order, the BSF, which was empowered to take action only up to 15 km in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, has now been authorised to spread its reach up to 50 km.


However, this order reduces BSF reach in Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya by 30 km. Similarly, in Gujarat, its jurisdiction has been curtailed from 80 km to 50 km. In Rajasthan, the BSF's jurisdiction will remain the same at 50 km.