BSF, Gujarat, has warned Indian fishermen not to stray into Pakistan waters for better catch as they may be taken hostage by terrorists and their boats may be used for a Mumbaitype terror attack. Intruders from the neighbouring country had done the same with the occupants of a boat `Kuber’ from Porbandar for their 2611 attack. IGP, BSF (Gujarat Frontier), Ajay Tomar told TOI that Indian fishermen often stray into Pak waters. “They can easily capture an Indian fishing boat and use it for a terror attack as they did with `Kuber’ in the Mumbai terror attack. We request our fishermen to be careful, especially in the present situation and don’t stray into Pak waters,” Tomar said. “About six months back, Pakistani marines had kidnapped our 20 fishermen,” added a BSF source. Referring to situation in border villages of Kutch, Banaskantha and Patan districts of Gujarat, Tomar said that the villages are located about 25km to 30km inside the Indian border and are not near the LOC. Tomar said that a massive confidence-building exercise is being undertaken in border villages in Kutch, Banaskantha and Patan to build bonds between locals and the force which can help strengthen information network. “For the first time in the country, we are running a one-month training programme for unemployed youths of border villages. After training, we have also arranged for jobs for these youths in private security agencies. Nearly 100 youths have already been given offer letters for jobs with monthly salaries of Rs12,000-13,000,” said Tomar. BSF officials said that the Gujarat government is helping them in the programme by providing boarding and lodging facilities for the trainees. On decline in numbers of traditio nal “pagis” in the force, Tomar said they still have pagis in the force but now their sons have taken up other jobs. Modern day technology has compensated for the declining number of pagis who trace the footmarks of intruders on the border. BSF are also building the capacity of the crocodile commando force, used for patrolling in the creek area. “It is not possible to fence the marshy creek area and hence these 30 to 35 specially trained commandos patrol the difficult creek area, removing the remotest possibility of infiltration,” added Tomar.
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