Nepal, Bhutan borders to have revamped intelligence

NEW DELHI: Security along India's open borders with Nepal and Bhutan is set to be strengthened as the designated border guarding force at these two frontiers --SSB-- today unveiled its decision to revamp and bolster its intelligence wing and introduce non-lethal weapons there.

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General B D Sharma said the force has recently sent to the Union Home Ministry an ambitious proposal to "revamp" its intelligence unit and for sanction of additional funds in this regard.

"Intelligence is our biggest weapon when it comes to securing the open and porous borders with Nepal and Bhutan. These are sensitive borders. We have sent to the government a proposal in this regard as we seek to revamp our snooping infrastructure," he told reporters on the occasion of the forces' 51st Raising day later this week.

"We want to excel in intelligence-related works because at these two unfenced frontiers it is only 'good information' that can help secure the area from illegal elements," he said.

While the Nepal border is notorious for illegal crossing overs of terrorists, militants, arms and fake Indian currency, the Bhutan border has had numerous instances of insurgents and militants operating in the jungle terrain there and undertaking attacks on civilians and security forces.

Sharma said the government has accorded the 70,000 personnel-strong force a Rs 658 crore modernisation budget which SSB is utilising in procuring surveillance and other gadgets and weapons.

SSB officials elaborated that under the intelligence revamp proposal, the force wants to double the number of its personnel designated for this job and it wants to procure a number of gadgets that provide technical snoop data with the help of imagery and biometrics.

The snoop wing of the force, designated as the lead agency on these two borders, has an estimated 4,000 people.

The force, the DG said, will also send a proposal to the Home Ministry soon with an intention to acquire non-lethal weapons to be deployed along these two borders, on line similar to what BSF does along the Bangladesh frontier.

"There are numerous benefits of having non-lethal weapons on these borders as this would better allow our troopers to deal with illegal elements active here. Being an open border, it is not always advisable for our troops to use their standard weapons which are lethal in nature," he said.

The DG also said that the force, along with its counterpart paramilitary in Nepal, has also decided to strengthen mechanisms to curb instances of human trafficking along the 1,751 km Indo-Nepal border.