What’s in News:

• India has supported an initiative by China to conduct a “joint border operation” in 2023 of all member countries of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation)
• The border operation called “Solidarity-2023” will be organised by China, a statement by the Border Security Force (BSF) said

About BSF

• After the India-Pakistan war in 1965, the Border Security Force (BSF) was formed. It is known as India’s First Line of Defense.
• It is one of India’s five Central Armed Police Forces, and it is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• It is deployed alongside the Indian Army on the Indo-Pakistan International Border, the Indo-Bangladesh International Border, the Line of Control (LoC), and in anti-Naxal operations.
• BSF guard Sir Creak in the Arabian Sea and the Sundarban delta in the Bay of Bengal.
• BSF plays an important role in assisting the state administration in preserving law and order and ensuring a peaceful election.
• BSF contributes its personnel every year for UN Missions. It also supports during natural disasters
• The violations for which the BSF carries out search and seizure include smuggling of narcotics, other prohibited items, illegal entry of foreigners and offences punishable under any other Central Act among others.

Powers of BSF

• In border areas, the BSF can “arrest, search and seize” in cases pertaining to smuggling of narcotics, prohibited items, illegal entry of foreigners and offences punishable under any other Central Act and select provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• The BSF does not have policing powers and after apprehending a suspect as it does not have powers to register an FIR or to carry out investigations.
• It can only conduct “preliminary questioning” and the seized consignment or a suspect have to be handed over to the local police within 24 hours.
• The BSF lacks the authority to prosecute criminal suspects.

About SCO:

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or the Shanghai Pact, is an economical-political military organisation founded in 2001 in Shanghai, China.
• China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were the original 5 founding members of the organisation who found the Shanghai Five Group. The group was then renamed to Shanghai Cooperation Organisation with Uzbekistan joining the organisation in 2001.
• There are eight member states in the SCO at present, namely, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and India (both joined in 2017).
• There are four observer states and six dialogue partners in the SCO at present:

1. Observer States: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia
2. Dialogue Partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.

In 2021, the decision was made to start the accession process of Iran to the SCO as a full member, and Egypt, Qatar as well as Saudi Arabia became dialogue partners.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-backs-chinas-plan-for-joint-border-activity/article65536746.ece