After Bangladesh jailbreaks, BSF & cops sensitise villagers on sneak-in bids
Times of India | 8 August 2024
BSF officers at a meeting with panchayat members, villagers and govt officials in Nadia PETRAPOLE: Three jailbreaks in three days not far from the Indian border and zero policing on the streets of Bangladesh have put Indian security agencies on alert for possible infiltration bids.
The Border Security Force is holding village coordination meetings to sensitise border villagers on suspicious movements while West Bengal Police has instructed village-level border vigilante groups to watch out for outsiders who might try to sneak in.
On Tuesday, more than 200 inmates escaped from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur near Dhaka. The central prison, sources said, housed several Jamaat-e-Islami members who were arrested over the past few years. On Wednesday, nearly 30 inmates escaped from a prison in Kushtia after attacking the guards. On Monday evening, the day Sheikh Hasina fled the country, almost 500 prisoners escaped from Sherpur District Jail.
Alarmed over the developments, BSF personnel held back-to-back village coordination meetings at Mamabhagina and Sutiya areas of North 24 Parganas on Wednesday. Panchayat members, the pradhan and all villagers were asked to keep their eyes and ears open. The company commanders of the 68th and 107th battalions explained to the residents what to expect and how to report any suspicious activities in the border areas.
BSF spokesperson A K Arya said, "Apart from guarding the border, we are raising awareness about the current situation in Bangladesh among the villagers."
Anarul Tapadar, member of Bagda gram panchayat, said, "Many locals have PLOTS along the zero point areas where they engage in agricultural activities. Bangladeshi nationals, too, have their land near these areas and the BSF is apprehensive about this. At Naoda village, farmers have been asked to conduct agricultural activities between 6 am and 9 am. this will continue till the situation stabilises in Bangladesh."
In Kalyani village, state police have started roping in border vigilante groups to sensitise villagers on the situation in Bangladesh and keep a watch on the border.
Biswajit Sarkar, a member of Chhaygharia gram panchayat, said, "The situation is unprecedented and people from Bangladesh might try to take refuge and cross the border. Police have asked us to inform them whenever we detect any suspicious movement. The BSF has asked villagers not to venture out for fishing activities in the water bodies located between India and Bangladesh. We have also requested BSF officials to hold a meeting with the villagers."