NEW DELHI, March 31 - All the border guarding forces have been kept in maximum alert as the possibility of the forces inimical to India having bases in the neighbouring countries trying to create problems during the ensuing Lok Sabha elections cannot be ruled out, while at the same time, countries like Pakistan and China are also showing keen interest in the possible outcome of the polls.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, highly placed sources in the Government of India admitted that the general elections of India is generating widespread interest all around the world as a good number of countries are closely monitoring the elections. Under the circumstances, the possibility of forces inimical to India trying to create disturbance during the polls cannot be ruled out.
Sources pointed out that terrorist groups operating from Pakistan would be only too happy to create trouble during the polls, particularly in view of the Balakot strike on the bases of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) as the outfit would be desperate to show India in bad light in front of the world community. That is why, the security forces operating in the states where the Pakistan-based terrorist outfits have the potential to strike, have been put on maximum alert.
Replying to a question on whether any Chinese agency may try to create disturbance, sources admitted that over the years, there have been instances of such agencies directly or indirectly providing assistance to militant groups of the Northeast. Though India has been maintaining a cordial relation with China in recent times, the neighbouring country has not been addressing India�s concerns on security related issues. The Chinese have not been playing the role desired by India to declare JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, while, despite India providing details of whereabouts of leaders of militant outfits of Northeast-based groups, China is still in denial mode. �The possibility of Chinese agencies trying to influence the Northeast-based militants to create disturbance during the polls cannot be ruled out, but such groups have very limited capability after their camps were destroyed by Myanmar Army,� sources added.
Sources further pointed out that though India has cordial relations with Bangladesh, the possibility of the anti-India forces, which have bases in that country, trying to create trouble during the polls cannot be ruled out and that is why, the security of India-Bangladesh border cannot be overlooked. Terrorist outfits like Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Neo JMB, which has links with the Islamic State, Ansar Bangla Team, which is a part of the Al Queda, etc., are still active in Bangladesh and they may try to sneak into India to create trouble during the polls, sources admitted.
To deal with such problems, deployments in international borders, considered sensitive, have been augmented and all the border guarding forces have been put on maximum alert, sources said.
