The union ministry on 11th October, 2021 brought out a notification proclaiming an amendment of a 2014 notification to extend the jurisdiction of the BSF to 50 kilometres inside Indian territory from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. The paramilitary force will now be able to conduct search, seizure and arrest up to 50 kilometres inside Indian territory which will be similar to the imposition of martial law on a large number of residents. We condemn the unilateral decision of the central government to infringe upon the subject of law and order which is an exclusive domain of the state government. The political leadership also did not feel the need to initiate a dialogue with the opposition as well as the civil society to discuss the need for bringing out the notification.

