India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has achieved a historic milestone by deploying female soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC) in the northern part the Kashmir Valley. The female soldiers are stationed at an altitude of 14000 feet above sea level where the temperatures are around -20 degrees Celsius currently. Operating in these harsh climatic conditions, the gutsy women are setting a wonderful example. Trained in patrol, night patrol, and combat, the soldiers will keep an eye on the movement of terrorist elements along India’s border areas.
BSF Female Soldiers Are Proud And Elated
“It’s the first group of women deputed on the Line of Control. We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our male colleagues to protect the LoC. We are extremely proud of the fact that we are the first female group deputed to protect the borders. We have received special training and have been provided with the best equipment and gear like special snow shoes and jackets to protect us from the intense cold at high altitudes. We also trained with doctors who guided us about surviving in such extreme weather. We were imparted special arms training as well. We specially trained in patrolling, ambush as well as night patrolling,” said Mangal Dongre, a soldier.
“This is the commencement of women soldiers protecting the borders in India. In future, more and more female soldiers would be sent to the borders. We work as hard as our male colleagues,” said Preeti Chaudhary, another soldier in the group.
Kashmir Valley is going through the longest dry spell this winter with no snow even in high altitude areas. As a result, the infiltration routes along LoC are open this season and this makes it more challenging for security forces along the borders. Forces have inputs that Pakistan-based terror launch pads are active and terrorist commanders are continuously trying to push as many terrorists into the Kashmir Valley as they can.
As a result, security along the LoC has been tightened and patrolling frequency increased.
In recent months, security forces have arrested women carrying arms and ammunition as well as narcotics from the bordering areas into the hinterland of India. Female soldiers are likely to have an advantage to tackle such security situations where women infiltrators and OGWs (over ground workers) are involved.
Deploying Female Soldiers Will Enable Checks On Women Infiltrators And OGWs
“Women are equal to men. They have excelled everywhere. They work shoulder-to-shoulder with us and we are proud of it. This important milestone makes things easier for us as we face problems in the bordering areas where our naka points earlier had no female soldiers to check women OGWs. It now becomes easier and will help in stopping carrying narcotics and arms and ammunition by women. Female soldiers are given exactly the same training as men, and provided with same equipment, gear and training. They can guard the borders as well as any male counterpart as they are equipped with the latest arms and resources. They are doing a great job with us,” said Naresh Kumar, BSF Officer.
The deployed soldiers have handled arms and ammunition including rifles such as INSAS, AK47, TAR and SLR. The BSF has plans to deploy more female soldiers in forward posts on the LoC by July 2024.
Bengali