Muristek
New Delhi, April 17
The Border Security Force (BSF), which guards the frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh, has inducted more than 9,500 personnel for security duties in the first three-and-a-half months of this year, officials say.
The new recruits, largely inducted in the entry rank of constable, are being gradually deployed at border posts along Pakistan and Bangladesh, and for internal security duties in the hinterland that includes undertaking armed combat against Left Wing Extremists (LWE).
Of the 9,550 troops commissioned into the force between January 1 and April 13, about 1,700 are women personnel, the officials say.
The personnel are in the age group of 20-25 years and were recruited in the middle of last year, they added.
The new recruits have undergone a 44-week basic training in various skills, including weapon-handling and firing, map-reading, disaster management, border management, human rights, basic laws governing security operations, internal security dimensions and unarmed combat, at various training institutions of the force in the country.
A senior BSF official said, "A majority of the new recruits have been inducted into the general security duty cadre, but a few of them have been taken in for specialist branches such as radio operators."
More personnel would be inducted in the next few days, he added.
The BSF is mandated to check cross-border crimes such as smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency, and stop infiltration of terrorists and criminals through the country's land and riverine borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. — TNS
1,700 women personnel 896 recruited as radio operators 20-25 years age group of new recruits44-week training
During the 44-week training, the new recruits have been trained in weapon-handling and firing, map-reading, disaster management and border management.