Security to be beefed-up along Indo-Pak border as per committee recommendations

Taking the recommendations of the Madhukar Gupta Committee into account, the Centre is gearing up to tackle fencing gaps and vulnerability along the Indo-Pak border and implement the suggested scientific technology and heightened vigil on riverine frontiers.

The committee, headed by former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, was set up following the January terror attack on Pathankot air base and gave a presentation to Home Minister Rajnath Singh last week.

"We are serious about implementation of the recommendations of the Madhukar Gupta Committee," Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters.

Besides putting water sensors in riverine areas, the Committee also suggested installing electronic sensors and fencing on the Indo-Pak border, sources said.

It also suggested underground sensors be installed in infiltration-prone areas and foliage penetrating radars in forests and heavy vegetation areas.

Though the Gupta Committee prepared the report on the basis of its assessment of the situation on the International Border (IB) from Gujarat to Jammu region, similar action is expected to be taken on the Line of Control in Kashmir Valley, sources said.

Of the 3,323 km-long Indo-Pak border, 1,225 km falls in Jammu and Kashmir (including Line of Control), 553 km in Punjab, 1,037 km in Rajasthan and 508 km in Gujarat.

The Committee was set up three months after the Pathankot attack to suggest ways to strengthen security along the border with Pakistan and address the vulnerability in fencing. It has been mandated to study all types of gaps in the fencing and other vulnerabilities along the border and suggest a comprehensive approach to fix them on the interim and permanent basis.

--PTI