GUWAHATI, March 6 - Reacting to the assertion of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh that the Assam-Bangladesh border was secure, the All Assam Students� Union (AASU) today said that much still remains to be done to make the porous border foolproof.
Welcoming the induction of latest technology for border policing, which was formally launched by the Home Minister yesterday, the AASU said that modern technology was definitely needed but at the same time, some other practical measures were equally imperative.
�The Assam Accord mandated a host of practical measures for securing the border but those have not yet materialised. The induction of latest technology is welcome but the border is yet to be sealed effectively. The AASU will keep an eye on what the Centre does to make the border foolproof,� AASU president Dipanka Nath and general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.
Pointing out that the riverine stretch of the Assam-Bangladesh border was long and unmanned, the AASU said that it had long time back suggested setting up of floating border outposts as well as permanent outposts in the middle of the Brahmaputra river. �This has not happened, leaving these stretches vulnerable to infiltration,� they said.
AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said as per the tripartite meeting decisions taken earlier, there should be electric fencing and second line of defence by the Assam Police. �Unless these steps are taken, the border cannot be sealed effectively,� he said.
He added that even the Supreme Court of India had expressed its displeasure over the current status of Indo-Bangladesh border management.
