Indian Police Force

[Bhadra]

BSF and The IPS
​

Author of the article Mr Asthan himself is retired IPS Officers and has held some higher level appointments in the BSF. It has been his contention that it is due to IPS officers ignorance about matters military and their hostile attitude towards Army that has been a stumbling block in making BSF military like.

Both the arguments are true but solutions drawn are absolutely wrong and sometimes take the reader for a ride - you know - where towards the benefit of the IPS. Read carefully and one understands it.

BSF like any other CAPF is the police force. CAPF Officers cadre for all practical purposes is a subordinate cadre to IPS. CAPF officer can reach till about an IG rank but a very few. 90 percent of their higher posts are tenanted by IPS officers. IPS is the All India cadre like IAS and Indian Forest Service who are basically meant to mount on subordinate Services. IAS can mount on everyone everywhere and IPS on all kind of Police Organisations. The basic structure if Indian Bureaucracy is such a "Mogul Model" nurtured by Nehruvian Congress since Independence. Only the commissioned Defense Service Officers are away from their tight dragnets.

Now Coming to BSF and other CAPF. Their DG who is their cadre controlling authority is not and has never been from their own cadre. So no CAPF can claim themselves to be a cadre as such. All their bosses are always IPS Officers.

This is the single most block in the way of development of CAPF cadre. It is debatable what is the capability and intrinsic value of BSF Cadre itself but the fact is that in spite of BSF officers having gone to the SC, they are a subordinate cadre, if one can call them cadre at all.

 

[Bhadra]

BSF and The IPS
​

There is a lot of friction and heart-burning amongst the CAPF officers as they all want to be treated like IPS Officers and at par with them. That is simply not possible. IF CAPF are Police Forces then their natural bosses are IPS. That is how the structure of bureaucracy is. All police forces in India have to under command of IPS - that is the requirement of Unitary Character of the framework of the constitution which is necessary to bring in the primacy of the central govt over states. BSF or other CAPF can not alter that so easily.

But why Does the IPS Not Allow Militarisation Of CAPF. This is the crux of all the issues put together. True militarisation means making "CAPF Paramilitary Forces" like in the case of BDR in Bangladesh or Rangers or FAC in Pakistan. or Border Regts in Tiet or our Assam Rifles. Paramilitary Forces mean Police forces trained for military duties under the operational command of the Army. If that is resorted to, IPS officers will lose about five hundred or more posts of CAPF in the ranks of DIG and above. Not only that that is a loss of many huge money making cows. That will slow down their career progression which is so fast that every man entering IPS retires as DG or equivalent. So IPS fights the idea of militarisation of CAPF tooth and nail and makes deliberate efforts to keep Army at bay from CAPF.

Shri Asthana has rightly named IPS as the main culprit but not identified real reason for it. Lack of military knowledge can be made up but not the embedded bureaucratic interests and empire building. Not the fear of the Generals which is so deep-rooted amongst almost all bureaucracies in India.

 

[Bhadra]

Past Precedence of BSF In Wartime
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BSF Being Overrun By Enemy. The instances cited by Shri Asthana are correct and the Army has learnt their lessons that BSF can not be given independent tasks in defenses of the forward tier. BSF post being overrun in 1971 were on flanks and not adequately supported by Army. The doctrinal Changes suggest that they should be employed as a mixed deployment and as beefing up forces. Wherever BSF is deployed. an Army Unit / subunit must be part of the deployment. However, the chances of overrun will always be there when enemy is strong even if with Army units.

Less Threatened Sectors . That means there is no use the enemy attacking those areas where he would not gain much. No independent areas would be assigned to them capture of which will compromise the defenses. I believe They can also be assigned independent sectors provided Sector HQ along with the IPS DIG is laced under command of the Army. An IPS will straight away run to Delhi instead of being under command Army. So much is the ego and fear......

Command and Control. That is the nagging issue that bedevils all Police Officers including CAPF. Even during Wartime they will not spare any opportunity to start quarreling about their false status and precedence. A 16 year service BSF Commandant will refuse to work with a Colonel and the Asstt Commandants would like to sit on the chair of Brigade Commander. That upsets the entire chain of Command and makes mutual working extremely difficult. The constables, NCO and Inspector levels have no problems. Under such conditions it would be better to work without BSF rather than invite rebellion under one's command.

 

[Bhadra]

How to Mashup BSF Peacetime Defensive Activities with War Plans
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Shri Asthana has suggested certain measures to fortify the forward defenses / Defences along the IB. Those must fall under two categories. Measures required for peacetime Police activities and Measures required for War. Both these requirements could at times be contradictory and interfere with warplanes.

The GoI has invested enormously for the protection of the IB during peacetime on Indo Pak as also on Indo Bangladesh borders. Apart from fencing. the BOP and residential accommodations have been built up to face solid military threats mainly artillery shelling. It is not correct to say that BSF BOPs will not withstand artillery shelling. During the war some of those BOP would have been occupied by regular army troops including mechanized forces and artillery elements.

However, what is of more importance here is that before the construction of any such fortifications, the BSF and Army must coordinate Warplanes and build those fortifications in mesh with the plans. If a fortification is vacated by BSF during the war which the Army do not intend to occupy during war. its occupation by the enemy would inflict ten times of losses of Army in retaking it.

Here I can say with confidence that BSF has far better protection facilities along the IB than required for war and none of those can be easily run over. BSF deserves credit for it.

 

[Bhadra]

Options For Militarization of CAPF
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Shri Asthana's observations that BSF and other border guarding CAPF have significant military tasks at hand and that military skills have to be aren't are absolutely valid. Let us examine some options to achieve that.

* Option One. The militarization of the border guard CAPF through making those Paramilitary forces. That involves that while those CAPF are part of and under the administrative control of MHA, they are to be under the operational control of the Army. This the Assam Rifles Model. However I foresee a lot of problems in this model getting through. Management of Indo - Pak, Indo - Bangladesh and Indo Nepal / Indo- Bhutan borders during peacetime is a huge policing task and though relevant to Army, they should not be burdened with it. Secondly, bureaucratic interests of IPS, CAPF cadre Officers and Army Officers would come into conflict and it is difficult for the govt of the day to accept it. Thirdly, national policing perspectives would require that such huge forces going away from law and order grids may not be a good option particularly when internal security threats are on the rise.

* Option Two . The better option for the militarisation of CAPF is to route entire border management CAPF including officers through Army. All CAPF personnel after recruitment are trained by the Army and all of them undergo a mandatory service of five years in the Army. Army would have an option to retain two percent of them. That will facilitate a minimum one field / border area tenure for all. This solves major problems of the Army as also of CAPF. It would also address major national problem of pension burdon and defense budgets. This will give better self-esteem to all CAPF constables as also the officers and prepare them for military challenges on borders.

 

[Bhadra]

Military Education To IPS Officers
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It is very nice of Shri Asthana that he has tried to understand military nuances of defending a border. He has carried out some studies and recommends his IPS cadre officers to study the subject. However, under Indian Conditions it would be futile to train an IPS in military tactics.

An IPS officer does not function in CAPF below a DIG level. So he is never with the troops. IPS is not "leadership in the field" service but a superimposed boss service. An IPS will not command any troops in war as only battalions are placed under command of the Army. The IPS teneting DIG and higher appointments in CAPF have thus absolved themselves of any war responsibilities. Even in CI/CT environment IPS is not posted below DIG rank. Then why waste valuable national resources in training one in military tactics and warfighting?

In CI/CT environment an IPS found in lower ranks of police is much more useful if one is able to discharge one's Police responsibilities efficiently and helpfully. An IPS can be an asset there if he is able to gather some intelligence and pass it on to the Army.

Seen in this perspective, tactical military training to IPS would not serve any purpose. However, DSSC and higher-level military training could be useful for IPS to discharge NIA and Intelligence functions.

 

[Bhadra]

National Security Setup and CAPF
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The overall Thrust of Shri Asthana's article is the old wine in a new battle wherein he argues that IPS should be well trained in military science and BSF capable of warding off the attacks and militarily defend the IB. He has only stopped short of stating that BSF should be a parallel Army capable of looking after the defenses of a border during war independently. This a very old concept frequently propagated by IPS intellectuals and BSF in particular that they are to be given independent responsibility at par with Army to defend one border during war. The deep desire to play generals dies hard...

The national security apparatus though would be aghast at such suggestions. BSF under no circumstances can ward off attacks even by Bangladesh BDR let alone Pakistani regulars as events have shown in the past. BSF is very well modernized and equipped today and it has its air and water components also with them. That has gone into head of many BSF/ IPS brass. It does not mean they can claim to be parallel Army or at par with Army. Sometimes such desires also emanate from "Ye Dil Mange More.." syndrome.... what is more in that is well understood.

As the functioning of the govt of India security setup the nation can ill afford to have multiple agencies for singular responsibility. MHA can not become designed with additional responsibilities of the Defense of India. They have enough at hand. No country can afford to give wartime security of a border to police forces howsoever trained and modernize it may be.

Gone are those scheming, backbiting, and oneupmanship days of Nehru and Indira when some IPS officer would flaunt the ideas of having strong CAPF to quill the Army coup and protect the family and nation against the Army.

I pray and only hope Shri Asthana is not backing such ideas at the behest of someone as has been published by the "Wire". I further hope we do not have fresh "Maliks" and "Bhatias" of 1962 fame amongst us who in their wish to play generals brought a national shame and calamity of 1962 on us.

 

[WolfPack86]

JKP to hire light-weight transport Helicopters for CI-Ops, other uses
SRINAGAR: In a bid to give upper hand to security forces at the forefront of fighting militancy, the union territory administration for the very first time is mulling to hire light-weight transport helicopters for the multi-purpose use for central forces and Jammu and Kashmir police.
On behalf of Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, the police headquarter has invited e-tenders from reputed and registered Aviation Companies having a minimum fleet of three air-worthy transport helicopters.
The tenders are being invited for hiring of helicopter on wet lease basis for a term of one year for the multipurpose use of J&K police and Central forces.
“The helicopters be preferably be light-weight, single engine, air-lift or helicopters of equivalent performance,” as per the e-tender of Jammu and Kashmir police.
A senior police officer told The News Now that the tender comes after the centre government decided to strengthen the Jammu and Kashmir police department which has been on the front row against the militancy from last three decades, under the MHA’s police modernization plan.
“Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been providing latest equipment to J&K police that, apart from weapons, includes Mobile Commando Vehicles (MCVs), hi-tech vest shields, helmets, body cameras etc,” he said, adding the light-weight helicopters are the next step.
Jammu and Kashmir is a volatile place when it comes to militancy and we have lost so many of our men during encounters as they could not be evacuated to hospitals after grave injuries, said a top security official.
“These helicopters would not only help us in precise encounters, but will also serve the purpose of air-lifting the police or other injured security personnel, who sustain bullet or splinter injuries during encounters, to the base hospitals for timely medical aid”, he said.
The security forces will be able to reach far-flung areas in which militants may have taken shelter. It will be a game changer for Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces, he added.
Another senior police official said, “Procuring of light-weight helicopters will give an upper hand to the Jammu and Kashmir police and will serve multi-purposes which includes serving local masses in emergency situation as earlier people were more dependent on army helicopter for situations like earthquake and other natural disasters that include floods etc.”

JKP to hire light-weight transport Helicopters for CI-Ops, other uses - The News Now

SRINAGAR: In a bid to give upper hand to security forces at the forefront of fighting militancy, the union territory administration for the very first time is mulling to hire light-weight transport helicopters for the multi-purpose use for central forces and Jammu and Kashmir police.<br/>On...

www.thenewsnow.co.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Kerala police helicopter.

 

[Harbinger]

Bihar Police regular constable with Excalibur

 

[Vishal reddy]

This is BSF Crocodile (Creek) commandos!!
They act a marine force in sundarban regions near Bangladesh and enclaves and exclaves near pakistan

 

[Vishal reddy]

This is Odisha coastal security police(Marine police)
SRY for the clarity of the pictures!!

 

[Vishal reddy]

Indian Reserve Battalion(IRBn) Odisha police!!

 

[Harbinger]

This is BSF Crocodile (Creek) commandos!!
They act a marine force in sundarban regions near Bangladesh and enclaves and exclaves near pakistanView attachment 48259View attachment 48260View attachment 48261View attachment 48262View attachment 48265View attachment 48267View attachment 48268View attachment 48269View attachment 48270View attachment 48265View attachment 48264

The 5th pic and the second last pic (which are actually same) are actually of regular BSF troopers and not of the creek crocodile commandos.
Also think logically, how the hell one would walk into swamp with an insas and that equipment.

 

[Harbinger]

This is BSF Crocodile (Creek) commandos!!
They act a marine force in sundarban regions near Bangladesh and enclaves and exclaves near pakistanView attachment 48259View attachment 48260View attachment 48261View attachment 48262View attachment 48265View attachment 48267View attachment 48268View attachment 48269View attachment 48270View attachment 48265View attachment 48264

Also( judging from the camouflage), the last picture, it can be anything but BSF.

 

[Harbinger]

Approximately all the southern bangladeshi-India border and Gujarati-pakistan border are Swamp lands or mangrove forest area!! That's the reason regular infantry unit, can't be used and this is where these commandos are trained specifically for this reason!! Plus no they don't carry INSAS, but carry close quarter guns like X95s and beretta mx4

You didn't get my point chap, whatever i said really flew right over you sadly

 

[Harbinger]

Approximately all the southern bangladeshi-India border and Gujarati-pakistan border are Swamp lands or mangrove forest area!! That's the reason regular infantry unit, can't be used and this is where these commandos are trained specifically for this reason!! Plus no they don't carry INSAS, but carry close quarter guns like X95s and beretta mx4

What i said was THE 5TH PICTURE YOU POSTED IS THE REGULAR BSF INFANTRY AND THEY'RE CARRYING INSAS. CAN'T YOU SEE THE LOGIC?

 

[Unknowncommando 2]

Left : INSAS 1B1
Right : Excalibur MK-1

 

[Suryavanshi]

Left : INSAS 1B1
Right : Excalibur MK-1

View attachment 48314

Damn luk at tat aesthetics.

 

[WolfPack86]

To counter Left-wing extremism, Centre tells states to buy indigenous rifles
The Union home ministry has asked eight Left-wing extremism (LWE)-hit states to purchase indigenously built instead of foreign made weapons for their police forces involved in anti-Maoist operations, officials aware of the matter said.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of top officers from the eight states on police modernisation on Friday. The ministry’s additional secretary (police modernisation), Vivek Bhardwaj, chaired the meeting. Several Ordinance factories such as in Jabalpur and Rae Bareli in India have been manufacturing weapons, which can be used both by the security personnel and military. Special director general, RK Vij, who is in charge of police modernisation in Chhattisgarh, said the ministry’s representatives at the meeting emphasised on the need for using locally made automatic rifles. “These rifles include Trichy Assault Rifles and AK-203 automatic rifles, which are better than self-loading rifles [SLRs] and AK-47s,” Vij said.

The ministry has classified Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala as LWE-affected states in varying degrees.

The officials cited above said the new weapons are likely to be used for anti-Maoist operations in the MMC (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh) zone of the Left-wing extremists.


The MMC zone includes districts situated at the tri-junction of three states. Around 200 armed Maoist cadres are active in the zone, said a Chhattisgarh police officer on condition of anonymity. The officials said the Chhattisgarh police informed the Union home ministry that it will purchase indigenously manufactured automatic rifles instead of SLRs and AK-47s for the forces engaged in the anti-Maoist operations.

Vij said they will not replace SRLs and AK-47s currently in use but will purchase Made-in-India rifles needed for further use,” Vij said. “The orders for these rifles will be placed soon.”

“First the police should make it clear that Indian made automatic assault rifles are better than earlier ones or not. A proper test of the new rifles should be done. The government should ensure that they meet the operational needs of security personnel in rebel areas, where during summers the day temperature may be very high,” said MW Ansari, former director general of police, Chhattisgarh.

To counter Left-wing extremism, Centre tells states to buy indigenous rifles

Chhattisgarh police said that it will purchase locally manufactured automatic rifles instead of SLRs and AK-47s for the forces.

www.hindustantimes.com