Thermal cameras, canines aid BSF at Bangla border

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh, the Border Security Force (BSF) is not only ensuring 24x7 forward patrolling; it has also been using the latest technology like handheld thermal imaging systems and trained dogs to prevent any infiltration from the neighboring country, officials said on Sunday.

- Mukesh Ranjan @ New Delhi

They said that the latest tech support to nab intruders is now with BSF's 102 Battalion, which guards borders in West Bengal's Basirhat, where a little less than half of the 33 km border is fenced.

The border guarding force now has hand-held thermal imaging cameras to ensure no infiltration takes place even at night, when visibility is very low, the officials said, adding that the camera systems allow ground troops to detect differences in temperature between inanimate objects and enemy forces.

These devices collect infrared radiation in the camera's field of vision and use it to create an image, as they said the cameras are especially useful during heavy fog and for night patrolling.