5,000 BSF men to join anti-Naxal ops

In a move to flush out Naxalites, Border Security Force personnel will be deployed in Maoist-infested states along with the Central Reserve Police Force troopers, the only paramilitary fighting the menace at present.

Five BSF battalions will be deployed in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Maharashtra.

"Around 5,000 men, drawn from various frontiers of the BSF, will de deployed for anti-Naxal operations in five states by September last," official sources said.

These states have been hit by the onslaught of Naxal violence and lost more than 230 security men this year alone.

When asked for a confirmation, BSF Director General M L Kumawat said: "The BSF has earlier played a leading role in anti-Naxal operations. We may go to Naxal-hit areas whenever ordered."

Talking about the construction of bunkers along the Indo-Pak border, Kumawat -- who retired from service on Friday -- said: "It's a fact. After 26/11 there had been strengthening of

defence structures and bunkers by Rangers. But as a matter of policy, we did not react in that manner. We took all other measures to thwart any misadventure."

Kumawat also spoke about the problem of fake currency circulating in the country and said only seizures will not stop this problem. The source of fake currencies has to be tackled in a 'decisive manner', he said while referring to the cross border network, which is sneaking the notes into the country.

The DG, who took charge of the more than 1.5 lakh-men force 10 months ago, said there have been 2,607 incidents of infiltration at the country's Eastern borders while the corresponding figure at the Western borders had been 199 attempts so far this year.

Talking about the modernisation steps of the force, Kumawat said vehicles like Hovercrafts are being acquired to carry out patrol and recce missions in the Sir Creek area. Kumawat termed his forces' relations with its Indo-Bangla border counterpart Bangladesh Rifles as at an "all time best".