Dispur mulls 34 new outposts on State borders

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 14: The Assam government is planning to set up 34 new outposts along the inter-state borders. These will add to the 81 BoPs already existing along the inter-state borders in Assam.

Seven of the planned BoPs have already been sanctioned, while the Public Works department is in the process of making plan estimates for the remaining 27.

Seventeen of the new BoPs will be on the Assam-galand border - three in Jorhat district, five in Hamren, four in Sivasagar and five in Golaghat.

Along the Aruchal Pradesh border, seven additiol outposts are being planned - three in Lakhimpur district and four in Sonitpur.

The other new BoPs will be in Kamrup (2), Dima Hasao (6) and Hailakandi (2). "The government has felt the need to set up the new BoPs to enhance vigil and security in these sensitive areas. The project will be entirely funded by the State government," Home commissioner LS Changsan said. Each BoP will be manned by at least one platoon of armed security personnel.

Tensions occasiolly develop along the inter-state borders, which sometimes flare up into incidents of violence. In 2014, seven incidents of violence erupted along Assam-galand border on local issues, resulting in loss of 12 lives.

Reports of clashes over alleged encroachment have also come frequently from the Assam-Aruchal border.