Indian fishermen released by Pakistan look through the window of a train as they arrive at a railway station on their way to their hometowns, in Ahmadabad, India, Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Pakistan on April 14 released 89 Indian fishermen as part of a process initiated by the two countries to speed up the release of people held in each other's prisons for inadvertently crossing land and maritime boundaries, according to news reports. – AP Photo

NEW DEHLI: India will deploy an elite unit of its Border Security Force (BSF) 'marine' commandos to keep a vigil on infiltration from Sir Creek area in Kutch along the Indo-Pakistan border.

Marine unit will specifically be deployed along 'Harami Nala' area in Sir Creek which is a marshy, sluggish and shallow water channel, spread over 500 sq km in Kutch, a senior BSF officer said.

Marshy topography makes it difficult for troops to react swiftly against infiltration and incidents of smuggling through this area. Indian Home Ministry recently approved a budgetary sanction of Rs 44 crores to raise a BSF unit.

Marine unit, the first-ever in a paramilitary organisation, will be trained to undertake amphibious (both land and water) operations and possess special swimming and diving skills to operate. It will be equipped with weapons and logistics required to operate in such areas. It is proposed to impart specialised training to these personnel from Indian Navy and a full battalion (about 1,000 personnel) will subsequently be raised within the force, officer said.

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