New force to man hostile creeks along Indo-Pak border

In order to thwart landing of terrorists through the sea route, BSF has formed its first commando unit -- Creek Crocodiles -- to man the hostile creek area where India shares border with Pakistan.

In order to thwart landing of terrorists through the sea route, BSF has formed its first commando unit -- Creek Crocodiles -- to man the hostile creek area where India shares border with Pakistan.

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Creeks are a very hostile terrain constituting of numerous raised grounds having mangroves and a network of water channels which are quite shallow where all movements are tide dependent.

Creek Crocodiles are trained to thwart any evil designs from across the border, BSF Commandant Pushpendrasinh Rathore, who is training the commando unit at Koteshwar outpost of BSF, told PTI.

"We have kept three things in mind while selecting cadets for the commando including swimming and marine diving performance, firing abilities and endurance to work in the rough creek," Rathore said, adding IG BSF Gujarat range A K Sinha had given the idea of raising the commando force so that we can dominate the creek area.

The Crocodile units have 42 commandos at present and they are undergoing vigorous training, he said.

India has a long-standing dispute with Pakistan regarding the border in the creeks area and the issue has been on the agenda of talks between the two countries.