BSF wants LoC laced with ground sensors

In an attempt to thwart infiltration attempts along the border with Pakistan, the Border Security Force has decided to acquire ground sensors to pick up movement along the Line of Control and the International Border.

The gadget, based on experiences drawn from some foreign countries, is called the Un-attended Ground Sensor and once operationalised, it will be the first such security mechanism deployed on any frontier in the eastern or the western flank of India.

The forces' official request for information for these sensors comes in the backdrop of the September terror attacks in Jammu's Kathua area where militants perpetrated killings, leaving 12 people dead including Army personnel and policemen.

The BSF feels the UGS will help it in "effectively covering the gaps between the border posts, likely routes of infiltration and ex-filtration and could also be employed on international border without employing men and endangering their lives to provide all weather coverage from 150-500 meters.

The border guarding force has recently floated an 'Expression of Interest' in this regard which states that the device should have the capability to give real time alarm to detect an intruder or multiple intruder locations simultaneously, to ensure round-the-clock surveillance by utilising a combination of day and night surveillance cameras, control and display units.

"Hand held control receiver and variety of sensors like, passive infrared sensor- to detect movement of object in a narrow field of view-, magnetic sensors- to monitor movement of metallic objects such as weapons or vehicles, seismic sensors to identify ground vibration caused by vehicles or pedestrians (should be encompassed in the device)," the qualitative requirements floated by the paramilitary said.

Such an early warning monitoring system, the official document said, should be able to be "deployed far away from a base from a border or other secured area and can be deployed in very less time to provide live sensing for up to months to protect the perimeter of any area without endangering personnel.

The system should have the "capability of giving early detection of people, vehicle among others".

Sources said once a quite good number of proposals are received, the government will go ahead for actual procurement of the ground movement sensing device.