BSF will be able to act 50 km away from the border in the states bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan
The Union Home Ministry has been empowered to arrest, search and seize BSF officers by increasing the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF). BSF officers will be able to investigate and arrest in West Bengal, Punjab and Assam. BSF is empowered to take action under CrPC, Passport Act.
According to the information, like the police in the states of Assam, West Bengal and Punjab, BSF also has the power to conduct searches and make arrests if required. BSF officers will be able to act 50 km away from the border in these three states bordering Bangladesh and Pakistan. Earlier it was 15 kms. Apart from this, the BSF also has the power to conduct searches and arrests in Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Ladakh. However, with this, the BSF’s jurisdiction in Gujarat has been reduced from 80 km to 50 km, while in Rajasthan it has been kept at 50 km as before. No boundaries have been set for the five northeastern states of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur. At the same time, the border has not been demarcated in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Let us inform you that Section 139 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968 empowers the Center to notify the area of operation of the Border Force and its boundaries from time to time. The Union Home Ministry has issued a notification revising the schedule of border areas where the BSF will have the power to investigate, seize and arrest under enactments such as the Passport Act, NDPS Act, Customs Act.