GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has welcomed the Union government’s decision to extend Border Security Forces (BSF) in the state.

Sharing concern over  Twitter handle, the Chief Minister said, “Assam welcomes extension of BSF’s operational jurisdiction” the Chief Minister added that this move will serve as a strong deterrent for defeating cross border smuggling & illegal infiltration while working in coordination with state police.

The Central government recently amended the Border Security Forces Act giving the security force authorization to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, in lieu of the existing 15 km, from the international border in Assam along with Punjab and West Bengal. It is pertinent to note the centre has issued a notification extending the jurisdiction of the extended Border Security Forces to a fifity-kilometre belt along the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.

Many political party leaders, including Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and the Congress have questioned the rationale of the BJP-led Centre behind the move.

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