Ramgarh (Zero Line), November 17
The death of DIG OP Tanwar of the BSF, who was killed in an IED blast planted by terrorists trying to sneak into the Indian side, has exposed lacunae in the functioning of the force.
Questions are being raised how the BSF could allow a senior officer of the rank of DIG to go to a place where a few hours ago a heavy exchange of fire had taken place after a few groups of heavily armed terrorists had been spotted.
Despite having sufficient gadgetry, including metal detectors, bomb disposal squads and other such equipment, the force did not bother to sanitise the area to check for any booby traps planted by militants, who might have come close to the border fencing.
Asked to comment on how a senior officer of the rank of DIG was allowed to go to the area where a few hours ago two to three groups of heavily armed terrorist were spotted and a heavy exchange of fire had taken place, DG, BSF, Raman Srivastava said, “Before the DIG went there, many senior officers had already checked the place. But earlier that day the officers on the combing operation were on foot and the DIG was on a vehicle,” he said, adding that it was the weight of the vehicle that triggered off the blast.
Earlier it was said the IED that claimed the life of Tanwar was a remote controlled device that the militants detonated from a safe distance from the Pakistani territory. However, the DG said it was found that the device was a pressure IED that detonated because of the pressure of the DIG’s vehicle.
“They should not have allowed such a senior officer to go to that area where an encounter had taken place. The area should have been sanitised and they should have known that militants, who managed to cross the Zero Line, could have put booby traps,” said a senior police officer.
The BSF sources said Tanwar had recently been posted to Jammu and he was keen to inspect the area himself after the failed infiltration bid. However, proper security measures were not taken before allowing such a high ranking officer to go to the area.
“The blast exactly took place between Mallu Chak and the Balad border outpost inside the Indian territory. Both posts are being monitored round-the-clock by the BSF,” said a senior BSF officer.
The DG along with other senior officers, including the special
DG, BSF, today went to see the spot on the border where the IED blast had taken place.“There was a slip up. The terrorists who planted the IED were expecting senior officers to visit the spot as the IED was planted on the track. But this incident would make them (BSF) more careful in future,” former DGP MM Khajooria told The Tribune.
RIP.
ReplyDeletePls do not dig faults. After every war/incident the actions and failures can have a never ending debate.
Every death can raise many questions.