BSF jawans to wear Body‑Worn Cameras at India‑Bangladesh Border

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/NEW DELHI

In a bid to enhance operational transparency and reduce friction with Bangladesh, BSF jawans will wear body worn cameras (BWCs) along the India‑Bangladesh border. This initiative, being rolled out in two phases, is aimed at capturing clear visual evidence during incidents such as illegal immigration attempts, anti-smuggling operations, and encounters involving border patrol units.

The compact, night‑vision enabled BWCs will be worn on the uniform of BSF jawans. It will be able to record up to 12-14 hours of continuous footage. This deployment is expected to significantly strengthen the evidentiary record in incidents where BSF personnel are either attacked or carry out deportations of illegal entrants — often a source of dispute with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Why This Step Matters:

• The cameras will document key interactions, including arrests, “pushbacks,” and encounters with human traffickers or smugglers, reducing allegations of excess use of force.

• Before this rollout, the BSF reported 35 attacks on its personnel between January and June 2025—a rise from 77 total incidents in 2024—highlighting the growing risks faced by border guards.

• The video records will serve as independent verification, thwarting attempts to misrepresent or deny actions by either party.

In tandem, certain sensitive Border Out Posts (BOPs) are also being equipped with biometric devices for fingerprint and iris scanning. The data will be linked to the Indian Bureau of Immigration’s Foreigners Registration Office to create a robust database of individuals caught crossing the border illegally.

Officials said the decision follows a comprehensive border security review by the Union Home Ministry, triggered by increasing security concerns after the 2024 political transition in Bangladesh. The step seeks to reinforce compliance with bilateral coordination protocols agreed between BSF and BGB, including real-time data sharing and joint patrols in sensitive zones.

While the BGB has in the past raised objections to surveillance infrastructure (such as CCTV installations) near zero boundary lines, the BSF maintains that the BWCs and biometrics devices will be used responsibly, purely for enhancing security and accountability.

This initiative positions BSF in line with global best practices in border management and law enforcement, where body-worn cameras are routinely used to improve transparency and reduce conflict in civilian interactions.