BSF to deploy women troopers along borders

Indian border guards will soon deploy women troopers in the northeast frontiers to deal with the trans-border crimes involving women, officials said here Wednesday.

"Around 30 armed women BSF (Border Security Force) constables would be deployed soon along Tripura's border with Bangladesh and similar number of BSF women would be posted along Assam frontier," BSF Deputy Inspector General B.S. Rawat told IANS.

He said: "The BSF women constables would frisk, search and interrogate women suspected to be involved directly or indirectly in trans-border crimes, including smuggling."

He said it was problematic to frisk suspected women since the border was manned by men troopers only. In some places on the India-Bangladesh borders, women are the main transporters of contraband goods.

BSF women troopers have already been deployed along the West Bengal and Punjab borders. Number of women constables would be increased gradually.

"Women armed personnel were greatly in need to check all kinds of trans-border crimes. Inimical elements can involve the women to carry explosive goods and arms from across the border," the official added.

India's five states - West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram - share a 4,096-km border with Bangladesh. A large portion of the International Border remains unfenced and porous.

There are a large number of thickly populated Bangladeshi villages and towns on the other side of the International Border, making patrolling a delicate task.