Director general of Border Security Force (BSF) Rakesh Asthana on Monday visited the Training Camp and School (TC&S) at Meru to inaugurate the renovated Officers Institute and the newly built battle obstacle assault course (BOAC) complex.

Asthana was welcomed with a Guard of Honour at Meru, located 11 kms away from the Hazaribagh district headquarters. Inspector general Ravi Gandhi briefed him about the ongoing training activities and initiatives taken during the last two quarters by the institute.

The DG in his address to officers exhorted all to keep formulating innovative techniques so that trainees can stay ahead of the new and emerging challenges. During the entire visit, DIG D K Sharma accompanied him and briefed him on training, infrastructure and other connected matters.

BSF jawans in action in Hazaribagh on Monday. Vishvendu Jaipuriar

The complex consists of 26 different battle field obstacles, ones that soldiers may have to negotiate in battle conditions. He inspected Kendriya Vidyalaya, children traffic park, family welfare centre and also witnessed a demonstration on Artificial wall climbing.

Trainers in the comprehensive event exhibited free, fix, knotted, jhumar climbing, seat rappelling, free rappelling, casualty evacuation rappelling and team slithering. He reviewed the training activities of tactical, as well as battalion support weapon group and visited the newly introduced professional clubs. He also experienced the newly added jungle safari put in place to sensitise the Meru BSF family on environment protection, preservation and promotion.

In his address, he asserted that the new infrastructures will boost the training quality. He also termed the institution as a designated centre of excellence for counter insurgence, commando and explosive detection and handling and praised the efforts put up by the institution to constantly improve the training material and methodology.

The BSF training centre had acquired the status of a centre for excellence from the Centre few years earlier, because of its advance training on counter-insurgency operations, counter-terrorism and bomb disposal.

The centre also attracts batches from neighbouring countries seeking advance training for new recruits as well as senior officers.