Unarmed SSB personnel to guard India-Nepal border

In a bid to overhaul the security system along the Nepal-India border, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) of India has started deploying its personnel in some parts of the border, but without lethal weapons.

While kicking off the deployment of the SSB personnel, DIG, SSB, Gorakhpur, Pratap Singh Chudawat said this new initiative has been taken to avoid a negative perception by the public moving on both sides of the border.

According to him, unarmed SSB jawans will be deployed in plainclothes and a green jacket. The deployment is under "mutual practical group" or "Parasparik Bebaharik Dal".

Initially such deployment will be carried out in Sunauli (Bhairawa) and Rupaidiha (Nepalgunj). If this shows positive results, the SSB will extend the deployment of such personnel to other parts of the border, Chudawat said at a press conference.

At the Sunali entry point, the SSB team is led by a sub-inspector and five troopers, including one woman. While beginning the operation in Rupaidiha, Upendra Kuram Balodi, DIG of SSB, Lakhimpur, Khori, said the SSB would try to win the hearts of the people on both sides of the border.

He stated that such deployment will be made at eight more border points along the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

For this , the SSB is imparting training to over five dozen officials and jawans. The major tasks of these unarmed SSB jawans will be combating human trafficking, curbing circulation of fake currency notes, illicit drugs, illegal trade in wildlife body parts and terrorism.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)