Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister Amit Shah graced the 60th Raising Day celebrations of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) as the chief guest at the SSB Recruit Training Center in Tezpur, Assam.

In his address, Shah said that SSB, established in 1963, is a unique organization which has not only secured the borders but also done the work of meticulously storing all the cultural, linguistic, geographical and historical information of all the villages near India-China, India-Nepal, and India-Bhutan border. This he said, helps in connecting all such villages with the country through their cultural and linguistic history and have greatly benefited the country in maintaining the cultural integrity of India’s borders and strengthening India’s claims in disputed areas.

The Union Home Minister also lauded the SSB for the overall development of villages and in taking the schemes of Government of India and the State Governments to the grassroots level.

Shah also highlighted that in the last one year, SSB has arrested more than five thousand smugglers and seized 24 thousand kilograms of drugs, 144 weapons and a huge amount of ammunition. It has also rescued about 500 innocent persons from human trafficking. Further, SSB soldiers, along with protecting the borders with friendly countries like Nepal and Bhutan, are also performing duty in the Naxal affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, Shah informed. He said that SSB along with CRPF and BSF have marginalized the Naxal movement.

Earlier, Amit Shah paid tribute to the 51 jawans of the force who made the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country. Mentioning that in the last year alone, five SSB personnel sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, he said that the country is able to sleep peacefully only because of the soldiers who are willing to give the supreme sacrifice to protect the country.

The Home Minister inaugurated several projects related to SSB at a cost of Rs 226 crore, and also released a postage stamp on the occasion of 60th diamond jubilee of SSB. He expressed confidence that this postage stamp will always symbolize and keep the dutifulness of SSB alive in front of the country.

Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Home Secretary, Director General SSB and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.