Jehadi Threat Worries Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Dispur

GUWAHATI: The ruling BJP and the Opposition AGP are on the same wavelength on the threat perception to internal security from jehadi elements.

The issue came up for discussion during the Zero Hour in the State Assembly on Friday. It was AGP MLA Pradip Hazarika who raised the issue. The MLA rued the fact that even today a few stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border have been open along the Assam sector. He also rued the fact that BSF personnel manning the international border are not adequate in number at some places. According to him, even as installation of floodlights is underway, such lights are but not yet fully operational. “The Indo-Bangladesh border is very sensitive from the security point of view. It is through this border jehadis and Rohingiyas enter Assam with an ulterior motive. Of late, there has been a spurt in JMB (Jamatul Mujahideen of Bangladesh) activities in Assam. Even there are reports that efforts are on to float Jamatul Mujahideen of Bharat (JMB) in India. It has been a proven fact that a group of youths from Barpeta district has joined the JMB. The arrest of a few Rohingiyas has come to light in the State. All these developments together pose a serious threat to international security to India. In such a backdrop, I appeal to the government to seal the international border with the Bangladesh without further delay,” the AGP MLA said.

On behalf of State Home Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary also expressed serious concern over the threat from Jehadis. Indicating a paradigm shift in infiltration into Assam from Bangladesh, he said: “Earlier economic backwardness in Bangladesh compelled its citizens to enter Assam. However, now the situation has changed. Now people from Bangladesh enter Assam with terror in mind. What the AGP MLA said is a fact. It’s a threat to our internal security. When the AGP was in power four ISI agents were arrested in Assam. However, the Congress set them free after coming to power.”

On the slow progress of border fencing, Patowary said: “The international land border with Bangladesh is nearing completion. The previous government did precious little on this front. The BSF is manning the international border. Apart from the BSF, there is a second line of defence comprising the Assam Police to assist the border guards.”

Patowary said: “The NPCC (National Project Construction Company), NBCC (National Building Construction Company) and the CPWD (Central Public Works Department) have been doing the border fencing works. NBCC is doing the single-fence border sealing of 4.5-km open border along the Kushiara river in Karimganj district. After the completion of the work, 3.5 km of the border will be sealed. The NBCC informed us that the work is slow because of objections from the Border Guards, Bangladesh (BGB). We’ve let the Union Ministry of Home Affairs know of this so that the Ministry of External Affairs takes up the matter with Bangladesh. Forty per cent of floodlights are still to be installed along the international border in Karimganj district. The riverine border is being sealed with a newer technology. Materials for this technology are on the way to the State. Sealing the international border is among the priority agenda of our government.”

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