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The West Bengal Assembly has passed a resolution against the central government’s move to expand BSF’s jurisdiction to 50km from the International Border in the state.

In October of this year, the central government amended the Border Security Force (BSF) Act to authorize the force to undertake seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Assam, Punjab and West Bengal.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had criticised the move, terming it an “attempt to interfere with the federal structure” of the country.

During a discussion over the resolution in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Udayan Guha reportedly said, “When women cross the border, BSF personnel in the name of search touch them inappropriately.”

READ: Attack on federalism: Non-BJP parties in Punjab pass resolution against expansion of BSF jurisdiction

A BSF officer, responding to the claims made by Guha, told news agency ANI: “BSF is a professional force that has always performed the mandated duties by adhering to the rules and regulations.”

“BSF Mahila Praharis are the ones who do frisking of females. The allegations of inappropriately touching women by BSF personnel are utterly baseless,” the officer added.

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India today

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