Rajnath in Jammu today, to launch smart fence along IB, review security

JAMMU: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday will arrive in Jammu on a day-long visit where he will launch the 'smart fence' pilot project along International Border in the region and will also review security situation ahead of the upcoming Municipal and Panchayat elections, commencing from next month.

Singh will inaugurate India's first 'smart fence' pilot project, which entails deploying laser-activated fences and technology-enabled barriers to plug vulnerable gaps along frontiers, in two 5-km each patches along the Indo-Pak border on Monday.

Upon his arrival on Monday, Rajnath, who is expected to be joined by Union Minister Jitendra Singh and DG BSF KK Sharma, will head straight to BSF Headquarters at Paloura and review the obtaining security situation in a high-level with meeting with its top echelon. Rajnath’s visit—first after imposition of Governor’s rule in state on June 20, also assumes significance in the backdrop of the announcement of detailed schedule of elections to Urban Local Bodies and Panchayats.

The terrorists may attempt to disrupt the elections process, particularly in Kashmir Valley, where they have already issued warning to locals against participation in the polls. Officials said, besides local polls, the recent terror attack in Reasi district of Jammu region, by three JeM terrorists who had infiltrated into the Indian Territory from Jammu region along the International Border last week has also caused concern for the Home Ministry. After getting briefed by BSF top brass, Rajnath will travel to a forward area in R S Pura to inaugurate the ambitious project as part of a day-long tour, a senior official said. The technology is being implemented by the Border Security Force and senior officials of the paramilitary will present a demonstration of the activation and response mechanism of the 'smart fence' before the home minister, he said.

"Smart fencing uses a number of devices for surveillance, communication and data storage. Sensors like thermal imager, underground sensors, fiber optical sensors, radar and sonar will be mounted on different platforms like aerostat, tower and poles as part of the smart fence," he added. The new system provides for round-the-clock surveillance on the border and in different weather conditions be it dust storm, fog or rain, the official said. Director General K K Sharma had earlier said such gadgetry will be deployed along 2,400 km of India's border with Pakistan and Bangladesh in the future. The initiative is part of the comprehensive integrated border management system (CIBMS) proposed to be deployed at these two borders by the Modi government as part of its decision to completely seal the two borders to stop infiltration and illegal migration.

The 'laser fence' and other gadgets have been integrated and a CCTV-like feed will be given to a BSF post so that immediate action can be taken against any intrusion or infiltration attempt, the official said. While one of the smart fence has been developed by a Slovenian firm, the second has been developed and deployed by an Indian company, he said.