Centre reviews security of Indo-Bangla border

Task force formed to identify syndicates involved in cross-border crimes

Our Bureau

New Delhi, July 13: A meeting was held in the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday with senior officials of five bordering states on the Indo-Bangladesh border - Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The meeting was chaired by Susheel Kumar, Secretary (Border Magement). Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi also gave his inputs to the states towards the end of the meeting.

Secretary (BM) reviewed the situation in the light of heightened threat perception of infiltration. Issues of concern relating to the civil and police administration discussed in the meeting included non-registration of FIRs in some states, arrest and investigation, charge sheet and conviction in border crimes, problem of forged identity cards, cattle smuggling, cultivation of poppy in border areas, cross-border terrorism and smuggling. Issues related to border fencing were also discussed. After detailed discussions, several important decisions were taken.

An institutiol mechanism was agreed upon, according to which DGPs of all bordering states will hold monthly meetings with IGs of BSFs in charge of that state regularly, for effective coordition at state level to enhance security along the Indo-Bangladesh border (IBB). This forum will ensure that FIRs are lodged by state police based on the complaints filed by BSF leading to arrest, investigation, charge sheet & conviction in border crimes.

A Task Force headed by DGP, West Bengal with ADG (Border), Assam and IGs of North Bengal, South Bengal & Guwahati Frontier of BSF as its members has been created to strengthen the system at state level to identify the crime syndicates involved in cross border crimes and to take action against such syndicates. The task force will submit its report within one month.

Data of arrest of cross border crimils being maintained by BSF will be shared with state police of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram to develop institutiol mechanism for tracking of follow up action on such crimils.

In order to mitigate the problem of Indian villages located between fence and border and to enhance security along IBB, it was decided that the fence will be shifted towards the zero line to bring Indian villages within the fence.

The state governments were also asked to expedite land acquisition for border infrastructure works, a press release stated.