Continuing her tirade against the Union government over its decision to extend BSF’s jurisdiction, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the move was meant to torture common people. Banerjee also said that she respects the border guarding force for the job it undertakes, but condemns the “intention” behind extending its jurisdiction.

The Centre has amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a larger 50 km stretch, instead of 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. “In the garb of extending BSF’s jurisdiction, people will be tortured. There was no need to do so, the BSF does not even have the authority to lodge an FIR,” the CM said.