“We keep strict vigilance on cross-border drone activities through which drugs and weapons are smuggled and on underground tunnels that are used for infiltration by terrorists. The BSF is also working to develop effective technologies to control drones and underground tunnels,” he said. .
Singh was speaking at an investiture ceremony and the Border Force’s annual “Rustamji Memorial Conference”. The approximately 2.65 lakh strong force was raised in 1965 and is primarily tasked with guarding India’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai gave the opening speech and also honored a total of 16 staff members, two of them posthumously, with the Police Bravery Medal.
Among those decorated is second in command, Deepak Kumar Mandal, who gave his life in 2017 stopping cross-border cattle smuggling in Tripura.
Mandal, commanding the 145th Battalion of the Border Guard Force, was seriously hit by a quadricycle by the smugglers on October 16 of the same year and succumbed to his injuries four days later.
Thirteen BSF personnel were also awarded the Medals of Bravery for killing three terrorists who attacked Srinagar Airfield (Jammu and Kashmir) on October 3, 2017.
Those awarded for this operation include Assistant Deputy Inspector Brijkishor Yadav (posthumously) and SS Assistant Inspectors General Guleria and Hari Lal, among others.
