BSF raising day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2017: Sector Headquarters CI (Ops), Manipur, Koirengei, Imphal has geared up for BSF Fete/Mela as part of its 52nd Raising Day Celebration at its premises .

Speaking to media persons at Sector Headquarters CI (Ops), Manipur, Koirengei today, DIG, CI (Ops), Manipur and Nagaland, Angom Shamoo conveyed that opening of indigenous food stalls of Manipur, Nagaland, North Indian and South Indian prepared by BSF chefs and experts from Nagaland and Manipur besides display of various weapons of BSF, fun-filled games, other stalls including Central Police Canteen outlets and handloom and handicrafts, orchestra and cultural programs will mark the main event .

He said civilians will be allowed on the first day (December 1) of the festival while the last day (December 2) will be solely for the military personnel .

Reminding that BSF, known as the first line of defence of India was established on December 1, 1965 with the strength of only 25 battalions, the DIG said that there are over 186 battalions in the country at present, including three NDRF battalions under its command .

BSF has valiant men as well as women donning various roles in the service of the Nation and is the largest border guarding force in the world .

In its 52 years of existence, the force has emerged as an elite force of the country having excelled with distinction in the 1971 war with Pakistan, Shamoo conveyed .

Stating that the BSF motto is, "Duty Unto Death", he said the force has given blood and sweat to keep by its motto .

BSF is guarding the entire Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangladesh borders besides guarding the Line of Control along with Army in Jammu and Kashmir .

It was also guarding the Indo-Myanmar Border in Nagaland and Manipur before it withdrew in 2003 according to the "one border one force" policy of the Government of India .

Two battalions of Manipur Rifles (3rd and 4th MR) were also converted into BSF as 95 and 96 Battalions during the raising of BSF while three other battalions of BSF were formed with the surrendered insurgents of Nagaland in the year 1973 of which only a battalion is presently deployed in Nagaland, the DIG highlighted .

Maintaining that BSF's Air Wing, Water Wing, Camel Wing, Equestrian Wing and National Training Centre for Dog are some of the wings among many, Shamoo stated that the force is being deployed on internal security/CI role duty in Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya besides anti-Naxal operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh .

Contribution of a number of personnel for services for UN Mission every year, taking part in the Kargil War/conflict, defending the borders along with the army and checking infiltration on the borders with Pakistan and immediate responses and help given in earthquakes and natural disasters, including Gujarat earthquake in 1997 and 2001 are some of the significant contributions of BSF, he claimed .

Informing that eligible widows of martyred BSF personnel have been inducted/engaged in different tasks in the battalions under die-in-harness schemes in the State, the DIG went on to inform that Semma Prahari Manipur was also registered as an organization formed by BSF retirees of Manipur in 2016 for the welfare of the retired personnel in the State.

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