Border Security Force (BSF) started a seven-day "Operations Alert'' exercise

Tags: Defence National News

The Border Security Force (BSF) has started an "Operations Alert'' exercise to enhance security along the Indo-Pak border in Kutch district of Gujarat and Barmer in Rajasthan in view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations.

An overview of the news

• The 'Operations Alert' exercise commenced on January 21 and will continue till January 28 "all along the Indo-Pak international border from Sir Creek (marshy area) to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Barmer district of Rajasthan.

• The BSF will carry out special operations in the depth areas as well as in the creek and 'Harami Nala' as part of the exercise.

• It has also planned public outreach programs as part of the exercise.

• The Indo-Pak border along Kutch in Gujarat is sensitive as several Pakistani nationals have been caught in the past after entering Indian waters on fishing boats.

• To enhance security, for the first time concrete "permanent vertical bunkers" are being built to deploy BSF troops in the strategically important Sir Creek and Harami Nala marshy areas.

Sir Creek

• Its original name is Baan Ganga which is named after a British representative Sir Creek.

• It is a 96 kilometre long strip of water disputed between India and Pakistan in the Rann of Kutch marshlands.

• It opens into the Arabian Sea and divides the Kutch region of Gujarat from the Sindh province of Pakistan.

Harami Nala

• It is also known as the Sir Creek area.

• This area is a 22 km long and about 8 km wide marshy area which is navigable most of the time.