The Union Home Ministry announced on Friday that Praveen Kumar, the ITBP chief, will take on the additional responsibility of BSF Director General starting December 1. This follows the retirement of current BSF chief Daljit Singh Chaudhary on November 30. Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch officer of the West Bengal cadre of the Indian Police Service (IPS), served in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for over 20 years before his appointment as ITBP chief on October 1.
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Chaudhary, who received four gallantry medals, led the BSF during Operation Sindoor, where BSF personnel played a crucial role in cross-border operations following the Pahalgam terror attack. Under his leadership, BSF teams destroyed Pakistani outposts, terror launch pads, and neutralized terrorists attempting to infiltrate India while under cover fire from the Pakistan army. The BSF, the world’s largest border guarding force, boasts nearly 270,000 personnel. Meanwhile, the ITBP, a central police organization, secures the India-China border across five states and handles internal security duties.
ITBP and BSF Chiefs in Raipur for Annual DGs Conference
Kumar and Chaudhary are currently in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, for the annual DGs conference. Prior to the meeting, the heads of all central armed police forces, including ITBP and BSF, visited the Bastar region to oversee heightened anti-Maoist operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 60th edition of the conference, scheduled for November 29-30 at the Indian Institute of Management in Raipur. This year’s theme is “Viksit Bharat: Security Dimensions.”
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