SRINAGAR: Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, stated on Tuesday that five Indian soldiers have lost their lives along the India-Pakistan border over the past three years.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the minister, as reported by the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that four soldiers were killed in 2021, and one soldier lost his life in 2022 along the Line of Control (LoC).
He said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism, including at the Indo-Pak border, and its approach focuses on dismantling the terror ecosystem.
The minister highlighted that several measures taken by the government have helped control terrorist activities along the border.
These measures include close and effective coordination between intelligence and security agencies at both Central and State levels on all terrorism-related matters. He also emphasised the strengthening of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC), which operates on a 24×7 basis to enable real-time collation and sharing of intelligence between agencies and ensure seamless information flow.
The minister mentioned the establishment of special forces by States and Union Territories to handle terror incidents, with the Central Armed Police Forces and National Security Guard stationed at strategic locations to assist States in such situations.
He noted that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been set up to investigate terrorism-related cases, and central agencies have conducted capacity-building programmes for State Forces on intelligence sharing and terror case investigations.
The border guarding forces have adopted a multi-pronged approach to prevent terrorist infiltration, which includes round-the-clock border domination, regular patrolling, anti-tunnelling exercises, nakas, and manning observation posts along the International Border.
“Physical infrastructure such as border fences has been erected and maintained along the International Border, and floodlights have been installed to illuminate the area during nighttime hours,” he said.
The minister added that vulnerable border outposts are regularly reviewed and strengthened through the deployment of additional manpower, special surveillance equipment, and other force multipliers.
A technological solution in the form of the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) has been implemented in vulnerable border areas. “Border guarding forces have been advised to maintain strict vigilance and surveillance and take all possible steps to prevent infiltration,” he said. (KNO)
