FAILURE TO CONTROL INFILTRATION IN J&K LEADS TO MAJOR SHAKE-UP IN BSF

At least 50 foreign terrorists in small groups crossed over into India in small numbers over a period of time, indicating a colossal failure on the part of BSF and other intelligence gathering agencies.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

Amidst a significant increase in terrorist infiltration in the Jammu region, resulting in the loss of personnel, Government of India prematurely repatriated two top Border Security Force (BSF) officials: former Director General Nitin Agarwal and former Special Director General Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, to their parent cadre.

Agarwal became the first chief of BSF whose tenure was curtailed prematurely by the government, a decision which was taken by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, whose other member is Home Minister Amit Shah.
Agarwal, as per rule, was appointed at the said post till July 2026, but was repatriated two years early. Agarwal, a 1989-batch Kerala cadre officer, had taken charge as BSF chief in June last year. This is the first such major step that the government has taken in recent times against such a top level officer.

He had long years of experience in working in paramilitary forces including in Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Central Reserve Police Force.
However, his tenure was marred with rising incidents of infiltration by Pakistani terrorists, who have sneaked into India, mostly from the border area in Jammu. Until the end of July, at least 24 encounters have happened in the region, in which at least 40 security personnel, 14 civilians and 11 terrorists have died.