To prevent Pathankot-like attacks, India plans 5-layer 'lock' at Pakistan border

NEW DELHI: The Centre has okayed a five-layer elaborate plan to completely stop infiltration on the 2,900-km western border with Pakistan. It entails round-the-clock surveillance through sophisticated technology which in effect will totally "lock" India's western border to prevent Pathankot-like terror attacks and smuggling.

CCTV cameras, thermal image and night-vision devices, battlefield surveillance radar, underground monitoring sensors and laser barriers will be placed along the border to track all movement from the other side. The integrated set-up will ensure that if one device doesn't work, another will alert the control room in case of a transgression, officials said. Laser barriers will cover 130 unfenced sections including riverine and mountain terrain from Jammu & Kashmir to Gujarat — often used by the infiltrators.

Laser barriers will cover 130 unfenced sections, including remote riverine and mountain terrain, from J&K to Gujarat.

The government has given its nod to the 'Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System' (CIBMS) for 24x7x365 surveillance of the border through technology. CIBMS, officials said, is the only solution to avoid further terror attacks like Pathankot, infiltration and smuggling of any material. Even though it will cost a bomb, the government has realised that this is the only way to avoid further attacks. Interestingly, it is also the first time since Independence that India will completely lock its western border.



A senior home ministry official said CIBMS would also help security forces catch those who help in infiltration from the Indian side of the border, as the radars would have a 360-degree coverage and the cameras would work dayand-night looking on both sides.

Ministry sources told TOI that work on two pilot projects on stretches of 5 km each, one in Punjab and another in Jammu, had started after issuing a global tender two weeks ago.

After this, the government has approved 30 km each for installation of CIBMS in Gujarat and Punjab. The government reportedly plans to cover the entire border with "technological surveillance"