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BSF, BGB to share info on illegal activities

By KALYAN BAROOAH

NEW DELHI, Sept 19 - The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) have agreed to share real time information on illegal activities across the international border with each other expeditiously through formal and informal channels.

Official sources said the two border guarding forces will share information on smuggling of drugs and narcotics, fake Indian currency notes, cattle, arms, ammunition and explosives, besides human trafficking. The two forces will also share information related to antisocial elements, activities of Indian insurgent groups, breaching of fence following commonly agreed specific formats for the exchange of all such vital information.

These were agreed to at the Directors General Level Talks from September 16 to 19 at Dhaka. The Indian delegation was headed by BSF DG Rakesh Asthana and the Bangladesh delegation was headed by BGB DG Maj Gen Md Shafeenul Islam.

At the 50th round of talk held in Dhaka, Bangladesh claimed that a lot of mentally deranged persons crossed over to Bangladesh from India. The BSF DG suggested that an SOP could be drawn up early in mutual consultation to address this humane issue. Both sides agreed to look after the humanitarian aspects of the victim first and then verify the nationality of these mentally challenged persons.

The BSF DG stated that death or apprehension of criminals on the border is irrespective of nationalities. He said BSF personnel fire with non-lethal weapon only in self-defence when they are surrounded by miscreants armed with dao, sticks and their lives are endangered.

Asthana said the death incidents in the border areas will be �made to reduce significantly� in near future. Reiterating the need for joint efforts to uphold human rights and curb violence on the border, both sides agreed to take extra precautionary measures along the border.

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