The deployment of modern weapons has helped in effectively checking infiltration on the borders, the Border Security Forces Director-General Ashish Mitra said on Thursday.
"There is substantial reduction in the number of incidents of infiltration along the borders as the forces are now equipped with modern weaponry," Mitra said, after inaugurating the first All India Police Shooting competition.
"This can also be substantiated with the fact that there is reduction in number of terrorist-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last few days," the BSF DG said.
At present BSF troops are deployed in Northern and Western frontiers and only five companies were deployed at Jammu and Kashmir border, he said, adding, Central Reserve Police Force will take over from the BSF in these areas, but it will be possible only by 2008.
Maintaining internal security is more challenging as compared to guarding borders because in case of any eventuality, forces will not have a free hand in view of the presence of large number of civilians. Securing their life is a challenging job in hostile conditions, Mitra said.
The smuggling of animals along the Indo-Bangla border is a major problem for the forces as middlemen try to push old animals into Bangladesh for their flesh is in high demand in that country, the official said.
Recently, BSF has captured nearly 1.30 lakh cattle from the border, he added.