Border Pillar (BP) No 1175, the last international border pillar along the horizontal segment in the Rann of Kutch region

By our correspondent,Bhuj, 25 March 2013

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was on one-day Gujarat border visit yesterday. He arrived at Bhuj airport at and later reached Koteshwar through helicopter at 9.30 am. He returned at 4.00 pm from this border taluka.

At Koteshwar mandir, he performed puja of Shivlinga in detail. At 10.45 he reached Koteshwar Jetty and his convoy of nine speed boats visited the creek area bordering Pakistan. After 50 minute tour in speed boat he departed for Lakhpat through helicopter.

The Home Minister visited Bibi ka Kuva border post and reached G pillar no.1175 on international border with Pakistan. He spoke with jawans deployed in this difficult marshy area. Later he boarded Italian All Terrain Vehicle and visited Harami Nala where he could also have citing of Pakistani border post on the other side of border.

After arriving back to Lakhpat, Shinde addressed the BSF jawans and interacted with local media persons.

Shinde said he would give approval to construction of 7 km road upto G pillar in a week(24 km road has been constructed, further 7 km construction was needing approval). He recalled connection of Mumbai attacks with coastal border of Gujarat to show importance of border protection here. Shinde promised completion of pending fencing works on Kutch border.

He admired how jawans do their duty in hostile geography here. He said he heard that on an average 25 jawans suffer poisonous bites every year while on duty in this swamp area. He said he plans to celebrate Holi festival with BSF jawans on Rajasthan border.

Shinde asked jawans whether they had anything to say. Most of the time jawans replied, “sir allowed nahi hai.”

However, after pressing them, some jawans narrated their grievances. One jawan complained that while in Assam Rifles, retirement age is 60, why it is 57 in BSF? It should be 60. Another jawan complained about difference in allowances. Availability of power, proper food, quick medical treatment were other issued discussed between the jawans and the Home Minister.