No policing powers unlike state cops, say BSF authorities

Authorities also refuted the allegations of their personnel outraging the modesty of women during frisking

Additional director general of BSF YB Khurania (centre) addresses the media in Calcutta on Wednesday.: Photo PTI

Subhasish Chaudhuri   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |  18.11.21: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Wednesday said they neither had authority nor the intent to interfere with the law and order of Bengal in a bid to allay misgivings that an extension of its jurisdiction would result in conflict with the state police.

“The impression in some quarters that the notification would bring BSF in conflict with state police is baseless," said Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, the additional director general of the BSF in Calcutta on Wednesday. “The enhanced jurisdiction will help the BSF strengthen the hands of the police. The BSF has no policing powers as it does not have powers to register FIR or to carry out an investigation.”

His assertion came a day after the Bengal Assembly passed a resolution against the Centre’s decision authorising the BSF to search, seize and arrest within a larger 50km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international borders in Punjab,  Bengal and Assam.

The Mamata Banerjee government claimed it was an attack on the country's federal structure as law and order is a state subject. The Punjab government has already adopted a similar resolution.

BSF authorities also refuted the allegations of their personnel outraging the modesty of women during frisking. “Such frisking is only done by women personnel,” a senior BSF officer from north Bengal said, adding that BSF is a disciplined force and any act of indiscipline was dealt with zero tolerance.

On Tuesday, Trinamul MLA Udayan Guha in the Assembly accused BSF personnel of misbehaving with women during frisking.

ADG Khurania said after the fresh notification the power of BSF remains the same, only the area had increased.

“We have no policing powers. Any seizure or apprehension made is to be handed over to state police or any other law enforcement agency. The state police jurisdiction continues to be till the international boundary,” he added.