Home Minister Amit Shah while attending the 61st Raising Day function of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Siliguri in West Bengal on Saturday said the deployment of SSB in Jammu and Kashmir has given a boost to security forces.
Home Minister also E-inaugurated Integrated Check Point (ICP) Agartala and newly constructed residential complex of BGF at Petrapole. On this occasion, Director (IB), Secretary, Border Management, MHA, DG, SSB and several other dignitaries were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Amit Shah paid tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives in protecting the country's borders and eliminating Left Wing Extremism from the eastern region.
He told the families of the martyrs that the sacrifice of their brave sons has given the country a new life, energy and enthusiasm and the entire country is proud of them.
Shah said that in 61 years, SSB has received 4 Padma Shri, 1 Kirti Chakra, 6 Shaurya Chakra, 2 President's Gallantry Medals, 25 Police Gallantry Medals and 35 Gallantry Medals. “These national level honours received by SSB show how determined the SSB jawans are to discharge their duties.”
He said that the Sashastra Seema Bal has done a unique job of connecting the culture, language and rich heritage of the border villages of India with the mainstream of the country.
He said that the SSB has fulfilled the motto of "Service, Security and Brotherhood" through its duties. He said that SSB has carried forward the traditions of trust, heritage and friendship with Nepal and Bhutan.
“SSB has performed its duty with full alertness even in terrorism-affected Jammu and Kashmir,” the home minister said.
He said deployment of SSB in Jammu and Kashmir has given a big boost to all the security forces.
“In Jammu and Kashmir, SSB jawans killed more than 19 terrorists and arrested 14 terrorists in different operations,” he said adding SSB has arrested more than 600 Maoists in the last 7 years, killed more than 15 Maoists and 28 Maoists surrendered due to SSB's crackdown.
Shah said the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had adopted the policy of one border, one force, after which SSB was given the responsibility of vigilance and security of the border with Nepal and Bhutan.
He said since its foundation in 1963, SSB has generated a great sense of patriotism and attachment with India in the border villages.
Shah said that the countrymen are assured of their safety because SSB jawans are standing guard at the 2450-kilometre-long Indian border with Nepal and Bhutan.
“The SSB has played a pivotal role in making Bihar and Jharkhand Naxal-free after almost four decades. The Siliguri Corridor is a very important area of eastern India and the deployment of SSB here is a reason for reassurance and confidence for the whole nation. He said that due to vigilance of the SSB, we have been successful in creating an environment of trust in the eastern region,” he said.
Shah said that while respecting the dignity of the friendly relations between India and Nepal, the removal of more than 1100 encroachments in No Man's Land by the SSB is a great achievement.
“SSB has adopted a zero-tolerance policy in the last 3 years against encroachment on government land within 15 km of the border. SSB has been successful in freeing thousands of acres of government land from encroachment,” he added.