Security along Indo-Bangladesh border tightened for peaceful polls

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: In order to prevent any unlawful activities by miscreants and saboteurs from across the border along Karimganj-Cachar frontier, BSF and BGB held commandant-level joint meet at Sutarkandi, near the border town of Karimganj. From 7 Batallion BSF was present commandant Bikram Singh and Shah Alam Siddeque, commandant, represented 52 Batallion BGB recently. It became also imperative to beef up security and surveillance in the wake of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address public rally at Bhatgram near Karimganj.

Both the sides agreed to arrange foolproof security measures to check any infiltration of persons with dubious motives and that could be possible with mutual cooperation and understanding. Both Bikram Singh and Shah Alam Siddeque said there would be pro-active approach from forces on either side of the international border to thwart any attempt by mischievous elements to disturb peace and tranquillity with its ramification on election process.

BSF commandant was assured by his counterpart of BGB that strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in cross border crimes so that no subversive activity was carried out inside India from Bangladesh side. Both the commandants agreed that smuggling, illegal infiltration as well as trade in contraband goods would be contained and law and order prevailed. BSF commandant, in particular, impressed upon BGB commandant to lay down plan and strategy to foil attempts by mischief mongers to disturb peace and tranquillity. The BSF and the BGB have been maintaining close watch along the international border, besides carrying on 24/7 patrolling to ensure Assembly elections peacefully.

It was a travesty of events that within 48 hours of the commandant-level talks, a notorious Bangladeshi smuggler identified as Bappa Mia (35) was shot dead by the BSF at Yakub Nagar under Kadamtala Police Station. According to police, an organized gang of smugglers from the other side of the border made their way to the Indian side by cutting open barbed wire fencing. The smugglers made abortive bid to smuggle out cows. When challenged by BSF on alert, the criminals pelted stones at them, injuring one.

It was later on known that the smuggler hailed from east Batuli Village under Juri Police Station of Bangladesh. He was involved in a number of cow smuggling incidents in the border villages of Karimganj district which compelled the residents to spend sleepless nights. The place of incident is just 110 metres from the Phultuli BGB camp of Bangladesh. After the post mortem on the body of Bappa Mia, a flag meeting was held between BSF and BGB. The body of Bappa was handed over to BGB. Kadamtala Police Station officer-in-charge Krishnadhan Sarkar reached the spot with a big posse of police.

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