India: Modi Administration Dismisses BSF Chief

On Friday (August 2), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration dismissed the director general of India's Border Security Force (BSF) and his deputy "with immediate effect," transferring them back to their respective state cadres.

DG Nitin Agrawal, an officer from the 1989 batch of the Kerala cadre, had been leading the BSF since June of the previous year. His deputy, Special DG (West) YB Khurania, from the 1990 batch of the Odisha cadre, was in charge of the BSF's operations along the Line of Control (LoC), the de-facto border between India and Pakistan. While the official government order did not specify the reasons for their removal, sources suggested that ongoing infiltration from the international border was a significant factor.

Some reports have suggested that the BSF chief's lack of cooperation with the government on critical issues contributed to the decision.

"Lack of command and control within the force and inadequate coordination with other agencies led to his reassignment," a senior source told. "The premature transfer of these senior officers sends a strong message from the government to the forces to improve their performance," the source added.

"Given the increased activities south of the Pir Panjal, where the BSF controls a significant portion of the International Boundary, the responsibility falls on the DG and Special DG of the BSF," the officer further explained.

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