GUWAHATI, June 22 - The Assam government is keen on sealing the international border with Bangladesh to prevent fresh infiltration and efforts are on to relocate the people who are living right up to the zero line to improve border management. A move is also on to increase the strength of border outposts of the Border Police.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Kumar Sanjay Krishna and Special Director General of Police, Border, BJ Mahanta recently visited the international border areas in Karimganj district and held talks with senior officers of the Border Security Force (BSF) to assess the situation on the ground so that the State government can play its part in improving border management to check infiltration.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Sanjay Krishna said that during the visit, he and Mahanta held detailed discussion with senior BSF officers who outlined the problems faced by the border guarding force. The State government will do the needful so that the functioning of the BSF improves further.
The Additional Chief Secretary revealed that the BSF officers stressed the need for improving infrastructure, including improvement of roads leading to the international border, besides those parallel to the border. Lack of electricity in some border posts is another issue raised by the BSF. The State government would take necessary measures on both the issues as soon as possible.
The third major problem faced by the BSF in border management is habitation of people right up to the zero line. The Additional Chief Secretary has directed Karimganj deputy commissioner to look for suitable land so that these people living near the international border can be relocated.
During a visit to the steamer ghat on the bank of the Kushiyara river along the international border, the State government officials came to know that the Government of Bangladesh has constructed a road parallel to the river and the villages in the neighbouring country beyond the road. No one is allowed to move on the road at night, which improved border management on the Bangladesh side. That is why there is need for relocating the people living right up to the zero line on the Indian side.
On the overall situation along the border, Sanjay Krishna said the Indian government has started taking initiative to plug the gaps on the fencing along the international border, while the alertness of the BSF personnel has also improved considerably. The BSF is also maintaining close coordination with the Border Guards Bangladesh, which is important for effective border management.
