Barack Obama's India visit: BSF bolsters security along International Border

NEW DELHI: BSF has stepped up security along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, deploying close to 1,200 additional personnel there in view of US President Barack Obama's visit to India later this week.

Sources said the force has been witnessing an increasing number of infiltration attempts along the IB in the border areas of the state and some recent intercepts indicate that Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba is planning to orchestrate an attack if they manage to sneak in.

"The security at the IB has been stepped up in the wake of US President Barack Obama's visit to the country later this week. About 10-12 BSF companies have been deployed to bolster the existing units," the sources said.

One BSF company has an approximate working strength of about 100 troops.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said whenever a Head of State visits the country, security is stepped up.

"This is part of the standard protocol," he said. The sources said infiltration attempts from across the border are occurring on a daily basis and dense fog and winter chill is posing a big challenge to the security forces deployed in this area.

"Some intercepts about three days back indicate that the LeT is planning some big attack in the country and hence vigilance has been mounted along this border," they said.

The additional troops are part of the special combat teams of the BSF which are placed at strategic locations to keep a check on illegal crossings in the day and especially during night.

Strong security arrangements are being put in place in the national capital and other places across the country in the backdrop of the US President's visit, who will be the chief guest during the Republic Day parade here on January 26.

A seven-layer security ring will be thrown around the VVIP enclosure at Rajpath for the parade to be witnessed by the US President, his entourage and other dignitaries.