Computer-savvy BSF breaks new grounds in fighting militancy

Panic buttons are pushed as 8220;a large number of militants have infiltrated the area8221;8211; this might have been the case earlier, but not anymore thanks to BSF, Jammu which has now installed latest computers in its main offices. These computers sift through the information coming from different areas and in the process help BSF overcome the confusion, a thing of the past. After regular monitoring of each byte8217; of information, the computers conclude that it was the same group led by Billa Gujjar that was moving in all these areas creating fear psychosis among the people.

8220;The militants have a daily mobility of about 15-20 kilometers. They know that this will help them psychologically dominate the masses and send a wrong message about their number. This helps them make the terrified villagers follow their diktats,8221; said a senior BSF official.

The main problem with the manual records was that it was difficult for the analysts to scan each page of the register on a weekly basis. And many a time there were manual errors also.

8220;Keeping tab of everything was difficult. And many times, forces used to get misled and launch search operations in the wrong areas,8221; remarked S Gabriel, Commandant, G Branch. No wonder then that installation of computers has almost doubled the success rate of the forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir.

Over the past two months, the BSF has eliminated several top militants and also recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition. U C Chhabra, Inspector General, BSF, Jammu claims that computerisation has helped them pinpoint the area of militants8217; movement and thus helps them locate their hideouts. It helps them plan their operation accordingly.

One such operation was that in Mahore area in Udhampur on April 7 in which they succeeded in killing two top Lashkar-e-Toiba LeT militants. The operation was planned after going through the information fed inside a computer. 8220;Our boys were not only aware of the ammunition available with them, but also of their style of operation,8221; informed an officer involved in that operation.

The computers have also been fed information about the track record8217; of each militant as also the area of his action and the school of thought he belongs to. 8220;We also maintain a separate entry of the militants eliminated and also the new recruits.8221;

Besides this, BSF has also been able to keep tab of the boys going across the border for arms training. 8220;We have now started maintaining record of the family members in a particular area. This helps us keep a check over both ex-filtration and infiltration,8221; claims R N Sharma, DIG G Branch.

However, BSF8217;s Operation Computerisation8217; has been hampered by acute lack of trained staff.

Availability of computers has also meant access to Internet. The BSF is now able to browse through several web sites floated by militants organisations and separatists and keep track of activities of several such organisations across the border.