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Policing the West Bengal Border (Contributed) THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY May 22, 1965 with repercussions. We must move turism of China and Pakistan finally begin to discern the outlines of the to carry forward those policies which be curbed and broken. perspectives we have been lacking reinforce and strengthen the initiatives Maybe, by May 27, the first death these so many months. I say, 'may for peace and development of the non- anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru, we be', because a great deal of hard work aligned against sectarian forces wher­ will know broadly what is intended to has to be done to clear the way. Hard ever they express themselves. Only in be done to restore the direction of work—and a resolute will to pull this this broad movement can the adven- Slate policies. Maybe, we might even country out of its despair. Policing the West Bengal Border (Contributed) HE recent border clashes between least Pakistan's calculation that Indo- west, traditionally and historically, T India and Pakistan have caused Pak relations will for years to come until the Chinese invasion, and the considerable rethinking on our method continue to be unfriendly — and if East Pakistan border was taken little of policing the border and if and how Pakistan thinks so, India has to accept notice of. Yet in 1959 plans were we should reorganise it. This is natu­ it. This will explain why Pakistan has made perhaps incompetently for a ral enough, for the nature, the organi­ put para military forces on her bor­ reorganised centralised police force for sation and the armament of forces on ders with India — Sind Rangers and the border. The role and organisation a country's border merely reflect that West Punjab Rangers in the West and of the EPR was not properly appre­ country's relations with its neighbours. from 1958 East Pakistan Rifles in the ciated and in armament and organisa­ Between friendly countries a few cus­ East — in the same manner as Tochi tion, the so-called armed police bat­ toms men should be enough — and and Chitral Scouts police in the North­ talions were hardly superior to the in the modern "Zollvereins" like the west the turbulent tribals and as the civil armed police of West Bengal. In ECM even they can be done without. Assam Rifles were used in the past fact until 1962 these battalions of There are exceptions: USA needs for police action in North-East India. West Bengal were merely used as the border guards against a friendly Mexico law and order reserve. Even these merely to prevent the numerous friend­ II inadequate plans remained long on ly Mexicans from immigrating illegally. paper. To the discredit of the Cen­ If Britain had with India and Pakistan Substituting the District Civil Police tral Government of India and the a common border she would certainly on East Pak border by the EPR was State of West Bengal no steps were have needed police patrols to keep out a major step in escalation, a step taken to implement even these half­ the infiltrating seekers of jobs. But she which India cannot ignore. It will be hearted schemes until 1962. And in probably would not have needed what dangerous for India to have on the 1962 in trying stretch out along the East Germany has on her non-Com­ Eastern Borders any force to face the 1,349 miles of the horde, the arith­ munist frontiers — helmetted guards EPR without full parity with it. It metic of the plans broke down and with automatic weapons, alsatian dogs, will be equally dangerous for Pakistan. the battalions soon ran out of man barbed wire and flood lights. This is The argument is clear. If any inferior power. Painfully and haltingly two precisely the reason why there is so force is roughly handled by the Pak more battalions were raised in the much talk about the need for a para para military force the Indian army next couple of years time and so military force on Indo-Pakistan border, is bound to be called in, leading to a mumerically the organisation is now for the relationship between the coun­ confrontation with the Pakistan Army. barely adequate to man the border. tries is far from friendly. an eventuality which the Border Police The gaps for infiltrating Pakistanis Forces should strive to avoid. What are wide. In the Punjab the strength is wanted on the border is an equili­ of the Border police is 13 men per Improvement Unlikely brium based on equal strength. One linear mile; in Rajasthan 7.5 men. And It is unlikely to improve either. Pakis­ does wish that Pakistan had struck to except in small pockets of Rajasthan tan was born out of hatred and fear its pre-1958 border defence by the these areas are absolutely clear of of India and Hindu domination. Com­ District Police. But the EPR had to Muslims, marking Pakistani infiltration munal carnage in either country has be expanded in East Pakistan for unlikely. In West Bengal where the driven millions of refugees in the oppo­ political reasons—to assist the army numerical predominance of Muslim in site directions and the memory lingers. in seeing to it that East Pakistan did the basda areas makes Pakistani in­ And then there is Kashmir. There are not secede. And while not engaged filtration easy, the strength of the many who believe that a solution of in putting popular movements down Border police per linear mile is 3.6 the Kashmir problem, if indeed it can the EPR had to do something. The men. be solved, will improve Indo-Pak re­ Indo-Pakistan border which was too lations and may even lead to friend­ quiet for the politics at home had to ship. But it is unlikely that the dis­ be hotted up and hence the setting up Civil Character Persists pute over Kashmir will be resolved, for of the EPR wings and sectors on the The civil character of the organisa­ as a diehard Muslim Leaguer in East: border, a huge organisation based in tion persists, the officers of middle Pakistan recently said: "If Kashmir Dacca. ranks are promoted men of inadequate problem is solved, what remains bet­ India's reaction was slow. In the education, training and experience for ween India and Pakistan?" China has west, the Rajasthan Armed Const­ the role they have to fill. The com­ failed to unite the two parts of the abulary and the Punjab armed police mandants are usually Superintendents sub-continent, for to Ayub China is were organised early. But Delhi has of police—the entire cadre trained by not now a common threat. It is at looked oftener to the threat from the tradition and regulation to avoid vio- 837 May 22, 1965 THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY lence rather than face it—and facing under the Civil Government, in the many thousands of square miles thus a para military body like the EPR it NEFA under the Governor through his sliced off from the states. It will be is not easy to run away from occasional special advisers, and elsewhere through adequate for the Centre to assist the clashes. The force is poorly armed the ordinary civil agencies Some border States with finance to re­ owing to the tardiness of military help have argued for a centralised control of mould into para military bodies the and owing to lack of facilities, The the Border Police Forces. That will fat and flaccid civil police battalions police forces on the Gujarat and Assam be fatal The Government of India is now responsible for the security on the borders are probably worse, a fact now crushed by a deadweight of border. The State must control the which need not cheer the West Ben. bureaucracy and a day to day govern­ force thus fashioned but the Centre gal State. ance by it of anything, not to speak through the Army may retain the right There is no doubt that the unfriendly of the distant marches, would be im­ to inspect these battalions to ensure relations with Pakistan will continue possible. The brain in the country that the petty state bureaucrats do not making the need for a reorganised often fails, but the limbs should be retard or hamper their growth and Border Force imperative. The model able to react locally to knocks and efficiency—nor do the petty jealousies exists. The Assam Rifles are officer­ blows. The extraordinary suggestion of the Civil Police who are frequently ed by the Army, the NCOs and JCOs that a strip of 10 miles should be ignorant of para military problems can rise from the ranks of riflemen form- carved out of border states is novel obstruct them. The Centre is paying ing a formidable para military body of but unworkable. Unless a civil ad­ and can call the tune; the State may troops of high tradition. It functions ministration can be fashioned for these well play it. FROM THE LONDON END The Lessons of the Local Elections THE results of the local elections have not yet been resettled, has natu­ national mood, this would mean a Con­ have come as a salutary shock rally caused disillusionment and con­ servative majority of about 230 seats for the Labour Government While it cern. but of course, local elections are not a had generally been expected that the According to George Brown, the real reliable guide. Indeed, what is inter­ unpopular measures which the Labour reason for Labour's setback in the local esting is that they reveal a very different Government had been forced to take in elections was that people have forgotten trend from that shown in the National its first six months in office were bound the mess the Tories left behind them.
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