BSF issues high alert, DG flies in from Delhi as more troops take guard at border
Times of India | 6 August 2024
12 Kolkata: BSF issued a high alert along the India-Bangladesh border in Bengal and four other states on Monday.
“Given the changed situation in Bangladesh, BSF has issued an alert along the India-Bangladesh border. The number of troops on the border has been increased,” said A K Arya, DIG and BSF South Bengal Frontier’s spokesperson. The number of troops was risen following a meeting at the BSF headquarters in New Town, headed by BSF director-general Daljit Singh Chaudhary on Monday.DG’s visit was planned earlier, given the turmoil in Bangladesh
The BSF is deployed on the 2,217 km-long Bengal-Bangladesh border, which is part of the 4,096-km-long India-Bangladesh border.
Late at night, DGP Rajeev Kumar spoke to Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla on phone on the situation in border districts. Security sources said the Army had also been moved to frontier positions, closer to the ICPs though they would not take up positions at the borders. “They will be on a standby behind the BSF personnel, ready for any emergency,” said a source, adding Army movement had taken place at Phulbari in Jalpaiguri. “Security along the India-Bangladesh border has been stepped up to thwart infiltration. Since July 18, the BSF has been facilitating the entry of Indian students and it will continue. All our officers from the headquarters—commandants and above—have been moved to the border posts to keep a watch. The focus will be on five ICPs—Changrabandha in Cooch Behar, Phulbari in Jalpaiguri, Hilli in South Dinajpur, Mahadipur in Malda and Gojadanga in N 24-Parganas, along with the railway crossings, Radhikapur, Haldibari and Gede. We have moved our support staff to the border,” said a BSF North Bengal Frontier officer.
Security is a concern along the riverine borders in the south of Bengal as well as at Chicken’s Neck or the Siliguri Corridor, which has Nepal and Bangladesh on each side. Central and state agencies are keeping an eye on cross-border movements at those stretches. Sources said police in border districts and Kolkata were asked to be extra vigilant while screening arrivals and that persons on “extremist lists” were being kept under watch. Strict orders have been given that all sorts of provocations should also be thwarted.
A senior BSF officer said the North and South Bengal Frontiers had been told to intensify patrol. Another BSF officer said the “Ops Alert” exercise was underway to ensure effective border domination and management. Officers also headed to Dhamakhali in North 24-Parganas to oversee the floating BOP at T-junction, the unique challenges of the rainforest and water-rich terrain and the effective measures implemented to tackle border crimes, like smuggling and trespassing.
ADG (law & order) Manoj Varma has asked border district SPs to be vigilant. The DIGs will report to senior officers in Kolkata. Extra battalions at district HQs were moved to border police stations.