New Delhi: Viewing with concern the suicide attacks by terrorists on security forces, BSF (Border Security Force) has started imparting specialised training to its personnel to tackle the challenge more effectively.

At least 1,000 personnel would soon be ready for deployment to tackle the attacks, BSF sources said in New Delhi on June 1.

Over the last five years, BSF has faced 19 'fidayeen' (suicide) attacks in which it lost 21 men and 40 others were injured.

The training programme is being expedited as the force apprehends increase in violence during the coming summer months and amid intelligence reports that Pakistan-based terrorist groups would be sending more men into India to carry out strikes, they said.

Without revealing the finer points of the training, the sources said, "It is mainly to sensitise the personnel to ensure that the terrorists launching a suicide attack are not able to penetrate the security cordon at the installations protected by them and the attackers do not go back alive."

Pointing out that the summer months would be "crucial", they said, "Efforts would be made to deploy an adequate number of such trained personnel at each BSF camp and installations protected by them across the state."

PTI