Whiplash
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R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, April 24 The Government of India has initiated a series of mega plans for increasing vigil along the 4,095 km international border with Bangladesh, which include raising of new battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF), creation of helicopter bases, creation of new frontier headquarters of the border guarding force, etc.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Inspector General (Operations) of the BSF, H Desai said that the process of raising 16 new battalions of the border guarding force has started and the new additions to the force would be used exclusively for increasing vigil along the international border with Bangladesh. He said that the process of raising of the new battalions is likely to be completed by the end of this year.
Desai, who is holding additional charge of IG, Assam-Meghalaya frontier, said that the new battalions would be deployed in the vulnerable patches along the international border, including the riverine border areas. He said that the riverine international border in West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram and Tripura are considered most vulnerable and the other vulnerable patches along the border have also been identified for deployment of the forces to improve border management.
The BSF officer revealed that a new frontier headquarter of the BSF, headed by an officer of the rank of IG, would start functioning in Guwahati from July or August this year. He said that the new frontier headquarter would look into the international border in the Dhubri sector of Assam up to Coochbehar. At present, the frontier headquarter in Shillong is looking after the Assam-Meghalaya sector and after the establishment of the new frontier headquarter, the Shillong office would look into only the international border in Meghalaya. A new office of the DIG of the BSF has also been established in Jowai in Meghalaya.
To augment use of helicopters by the personnel of the border guarding force in difficult terrain, the Government of India has sanctioned creation of helicopter bases of the force in the North East. One such base has already been created in Tripura and another base would be created in Guwahati. Desai said that the BSF has already been using helicopters to provide supplies to the border outposts located in the remote areas, but with the establishment of the helicopter bases, the force would be able to make more frequent use of choppers whenever required.
Another positive development is that the Government of India has sanctioned installation of floodlights all along the border with Bangladesh, which will be a great boost to the BSF personnel deployed along the international border. Desai said that the Border Management Wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is monitoring the process of installation of floodlights and the BSF is providing the required support to the personnel engaged in the job. He said that back-up generators would be provided to ensure that the floodlights function even in case of power cuts.
Desai revealed that the relation between the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) improved considerably with the holding of regular meetings and hoped that the joint survey to settle the disputes would be completed soon. The process of installation of single fencing in areas where the fencing cannot be constructed 150 yards within the Indian territory also started in patches of the border in consultation with the Bangladesh authorities.
It may be mentioned here that India has 4,095 kilometres of border with Bangladesh, of which 2,216 kilometres are in West Bengal, 856 kilometres in Tripura, 443 kilometres in Meghalaya, 318 kilometres in Mizoram and 262 kilometres are in Assam.
The Assam Tribune Online
GUWAHATI, April 24 The Government of India has initiated a series of mega plans for increasing vigil along the 4,095 km international border with Bangladesh, which include raising of new battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF), creation of helicopter bases, creation of new frontier headquarters of the border guarding force, etc.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Inspector General (Operations) of the BSF, H Desai said that the process of raising 16 new battalions of the border guarding force has started and the new additions to the force would be used exclusively for increasing vigil along the international border with Bangladesh. He said that the process of raising of the new battalions is likely to be completed by the end of this year.
Desai, who is holding additional charge of IG, Assam-Meghalaya frontier, said that the new battalions would be deployed in the vulnerable patches along the international border, including the riverine border areas. He said that the riverine international border in West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram and Tripura are considered most vulnerable and the other vulnerable patches along the border have also been identified for deployment of the forces to improve border management.
The BSF officer revealed that a new frontier headquarter of the BSF, headed by an officer of the rank of IG, would start functioning in Guwahati from July or August this year. He said that the new frontier headquarter would look into the international border in the Dhubri sector of Assam up to Coochbehar. At present, the frontier headquarter in Shillong is looking after the Assam-Meghalaya sector and after the establishment of the new frontier headquarter, the Shillong office would look into only the international border in Meghalaya. A new office of the DIG of the BSF has also been established in Jowai in Meghalaya.
To augment use of helicopters by the personnel of the border guarding force in difficult terrain, the Government of India has sanctioned creation of helicopter bases of the force in the North East. One such base has already been created in Tripura and another base would be created in Guwahati. Desai said that the BSF has already been using helicopters to provide supplies to the border outposts located in the remote areas, but with the establishment of the helicopter bases, the force would be able to make more frequent use of choppers whenever required.
Another positive development is that the Government of India has sanctioned installation of floodlights all along the border with Bangladesh, which will be a great boost to the BSF personnel deployed along the international border. Desai said that the Border Management Wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is monitoring the process of installation of floodlights and the BSF is providing the required support to the personnel engaged in the job. He said that back-up generators would be provided to ensure that the floodlights function even in case of power cuts.
Desai revealed that the relation between the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) improved considerably with the holding of regular meetings and hoped that the joint survey to settle the disputes would be completed soon. The process of installation of single fencing in areas where the fencing cannot be constructed 150 yards within the Indian territory also started in patches of the border in consultation with the Bangladesh authorities.
It may be mentioned here that India has 4,095 kilometres of border with Bangladesh, of which 2,216 kilometres are in West Bengal, 856 kilometres in Tripura, 443 kilometres in Meghalaya, 318 kilometres in Mizoram and 262 kilometres are in Assam.
The Assam Tribune Online
