BSF. (symbolic)
The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department will provide 700 pump action guns from its arsenal to the Border Security Force (BSF) for deployment along the international border with restive Bangladesh. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Conservation) PK Singh said these guns fire rubber bullets and are used to push back armed poachers and tree-cutting gangs in the state.
PK Singh said that we will give 700 pump action guns from our arsenal to the Border Security Force. He confirmed that the Madhya Pradesh government had demanded these guns from the forest department after receiving a letter from the Union Home Ministry on beefing up security along the international border with Bangladesh.
India Bangladesh International Border
According to another official, these guns were imported from US-based Maverick Arms Inc in 2008. He said the gun had a single barrel and was of 12 GA (gauge) calibre. India shares a 4,096 km long international border with Bangladesh, including a 2,217 km border with West Bengal. The states of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya also share borders with Bangladesh.
Political upheaval in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has been in political turmoil since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 following massive protests and left the country for India. Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus currently heads the government there. Following the unrest in Bangladesh, the BSF has increased its vigilance along the international border to thwart attempts by nationals of that country to enter India illegally.
