GOLAKGANJ, Jan 6 � The residents of Biskhowa, Sonahat and Bhogdanga-Kutigaon areas under Golakganj Police Station in Dhubri district are living in a state of insecurity due to frequent activities of anti-social elements and Bangladeshi extremists.
Though the Border Security Force (BSF) has been deputed as a neutral force in the sensitive border area, no security has been provided to the people living in Biskhowa, Sonahat and Bhogdanga-Kutigaon areas, it is alleged. The plight of the people here, however, does not end here. Numerous problems have nullified any developmental work in the area. Improper medical facilities, unhygienic drinking water, erratic power supply and sub-standard communication system are some of the factors which still remain unsolved in the areas under reference.
Sources informed that Bangladeshi people cross over to the Indian side at will. There are no motorable roads and therefore, patrolling by the BSF is nominal. The matter was worse in the Binnachora and Bhogdanga-Kutigaon area under Golakganj Police Station. In the absence of regular BSF check-points, such areas are virtually �free-zones�. Temporary settlers have gradually started camping in these areas. They never mean to settle down permanently, but help middlemen in smuggling and infiltration.
Interestingly, political parties are silent on the infiltration problem for fear of losing their vote bank. Without even an iota of doubt, this invariably provides a fillip to illegal migration. In fact, nearly 25 percent people residing along the border areas, i.e., at Biskhowa, Sonahat and Bhogdanga-Kutigaon under Golakganj are directly or indirectly encouraging infiltration as they depend on smuggling for a living.
The mediator or dalals, as they are locally called, are reportedly paid in hundreds to bring in foreign nationals to cross over to Dhubri district. Sources also revealed that the �fees� are often paid in Bangladeshi taka. They provide the infiltrators photocopies of residential certificates and voters� list on rent for Rs 200 to Rs 500. The documents are procured from the panchayat secretary or president.
The check gates put up for patrolling are manned only during the day. Sources informed that frequent extortion, killing and other harmful activities carried out by the anti-social elements have hampered smooth living of the people of the border areas. According to an allegation of the border area residents, the Bangladeshi miscreants are taking advantage of lapses on the part of the State Government as well as the district administration of Dhubri.
Recently, a group of eight Bangladeshi dacoits forcefully entered Biskhowa Part-III area along the Indo-Bangla border under Dhubri district and looted the residence of Zabbar Ali. The dacoits reportedly threatened the house owner not to raise an alarm. During the dacoity, Zabbar Ali and his family members were very seriously injured.
After this, the Bangladeshi dacoits snatched three cows from the residences of Chandra Barman and Dinesh Barman at Biskhowa. When the dacoits were about to cross the Indian border, the patrolling BSF team tried to apprehend them, following which the anti-social elements who were armed with sharp weapons, threatened the BSF jawans and made good their escape.
However, an official of the Dhubri Police Border Branch informed that regular police patrolling is being carried out in the area. He, however, pleaded shortage of armed forces when pointed out about the increasing cases of robberies/dacoities, and felt that more uniformed cadres will be required to effectively put a cap on the burgeoning crime graph.
