Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 26 May visited the historic Border Security Force (BSF) Sanchu Post along the India-Pakistan international border in Bikaner, Rajasthan, addressing the 'Prahari Sammelan' and interacting directly with soldiers deployed in the harsh desert frontier. Shah became the first Union Home Minister to visit this strategically significant outpost and engage with personnel stationed there.

Historic Visit and Key Highlights

Arriving by helicopter at approximately 11 am, Shah spent nearly one-and-a-half hours at the post. He was accompanied by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, and senior BSF officials. The Home Minister shared refreshments and a traditional breakfast with the troops, toured the 'Prahari Arms Gallery', and reviewed live demonstrations of modern drone technology and surveillance mechanisms deployed in border management.

Using binoculars, Shah also surveyed the 'Zero Point' area from the post, with temperatures at the site recorded at nearly 42 degrees Celsius.

What the Home Minister Said

Addressing BSF personnel, Shah paid tribute to the resilience of border guards. 'From snow-clad mountains to scorching deserts, and from temperatures of 45 degrees to minus 45 degrees Celsius, our Seema Praharis have discharged their duties with courage, dedication and an unwavering spirit of sacrifice,' he said. He noted that around 2,000 praharis had laid down their lives in the line of duty.

Shah also recalled the 1965 India-Pakistan war, noting that Sanchu had a population of around 500 at the time and that the RAC military post was located nearly 500 metres behind the village. When Pakistan attempted to capture Sanchu, Indian soldiers repelled the assault. He said the post carries a 'proud and golden legacy,' and that the day is commemorated annually as 'Sanchu Diwas' through a 'Vijay Utsav'.

New Infrastructure for Women BSF Personnel

During the event, Shah e-inaugurated 14 newly constructed women's barracks across various BSF border outposts, aimed at strengthening facilities for female personnel serving along the border. He also planted a sapling of the Khejri tree — describing it as a 'kalpa vriksha' of the desert — and offered prayers at the Sanchu Mata Temple earlier in the day.

High-Level Security Meeting Planned

Later on Tuesday, Shah was scheduled to chair a high-level meeting at the BSF Headquarters in Bikaner with District Collectors and police superintendents from five border districts. Discussions were expected to cover border security, rising smuggling incidents, and the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme for 184 border villages in Rajasthan, including road connectivity and 4G network projects.

The Sanchu Post, one of the oldest and most strategically important BSF outposts on the India-Pakistan border, has witnessed two major wars. Tuesday's visit signals renewed political attention to the desert frontier at a time of heightened border sensitivity.