Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has increased the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) and now BSF officers have been given the powers of arrest, search and seizure. BSF officers will be able to conduct arrests and searches in West Bengal, Punjab and Assam. BSF has got the right to take this action under CrPC, Passport Act and Passport (Entry to India) Act.
In Assam, West Bengal and Punjab, the BSF has got the right to search and arrest on the lines of the police. BSF officers will be able to take action in the states of the country 50 km from the Bangladesh and Pakistan border in the three states. Earlier this range was 15 kms. Apart from this, BSF will also be able to search and arrest in Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Ladakh.
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However, along with this, the jurisdiction of BSF in Gujarat has been reduced and the extent of the border has been reduced from 80 km to 50 km, while in Rajasthan the radius area has been kept 50 km as before. No boundaries have been set for the five northeastern states of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur. Along with this, the border is not fixed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh also.
Section 139 of the Border Security Force Act, 1968 empowers the Center to notify from time to time the area and extent of operation of the Border Security Force. The Union Home Ministry has issued a notification modifying the ‘Schedule’ of the border areas, where the BSF will have the powers of search, seizure and arrest under the Acts like Passport Act, NDPS Act, Customs Act.
