New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan on Tuesday honoured 18 officers and personnel of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at an Investiture Ceremony organised here, an official said.
Mohan, who was the Chief Guest of the ceremony, honoured 18 officers and personnel with the Gallantry Medal (GM) for bravery and valour and five officers with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), the official said in a statement.
Among the 18 Gallantry Medal recipients, the Gallantry Medal awarded posthumously to late Head Constable Ravi Sharma was received by his wife, said the statement.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Director General Sanjay Singhal welcomed the Chief Guest by presenting him a sapling and a memento.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, through his written message, conveyed congratulations to all the decorated officers and personnel and their families.
While paying tribute to the 51 brave martyrs of the Sashastra Seema Bal who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation, he said that their bravery, dedication to duty and patriotism are the invaluable legacy of the SSB.
Home Minister Shah offered heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods in Nepal and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He also praised the humanitarian assistance and rescue operations being carried out by the SSB during the devastating floods in Nepal, calling it a living embodiment of the Force’s motto of “Service, Security, and Brotherhood.”
Home Secretary Govind Mohan said that the security of India’s borders is a vital foundation for the country’s internal security, and the role of the SSB is crucial in nation-building.
He commended the role played by the SSB in protecting the friendly and open borders of India-Nepal and India-Bhutan.
He stated that maintaining a balance between security, public convenience, and peace relations amidst the large number of legitimate movements on these borders is the crucial responsibility of the SSB.
Referring to the quadrilateral border security system formulated by the Union Home Ministry, Govind Mohan stated that border security can be further strengthened through the concerted efforts of the Border Security Force, advance line systems of state governments, related organisations of the Central Government, and border communities.
He stated that the first important meeting for implementing this system on the ground was held in the India-Nepal border area under the aegis of the SSB. He commended the SSB’s contribution in this initiative.
The Union Home Secretary stated that securing an open border without any physical barriers is a very challenging task. He commended the technological innovations being undertaken by the SSB to strengthen border security through facial recognition, radar, CCTV, and modern surveillance systems.
–IANS
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