Northeast Desk, 23rd April: Cross-border crimes, particularly illegal infiltration, have become the primary concern for the Border Security Force (BSF) in securing the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura, revealed a top official.
BSF IG, Tripura frontier, Patel Pijush Purusottam Das, disclosed that 1,018 illegal infiltrators were detained while attempting to cross the international border in the past eighteen months.
“Cross-border crimes, smuggling of contraband items, and infiltration pose the biggest challenge for the troops guarding the 856 km borderline with Bangladesh,” Das stated during a press conference.
He highlighted the increased influx of Rohingya illegal migrants and Bangladesh nationals into the state, utilizing Tripura as a corridor to access different destinations in India. “A well-established network of touts exists across the border, facilitating illegal migration,” Das elaborated.
In response to the escalating situation, a joint operation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and BSF resulted in the arrest of 29 agents involved in illegal migration for their alleged participation in human trafficking.
Identifying prominent infiltration routes, Das noted a significant reduction in influx following strategic measures implemented by the BSF. Efforts to complete fencing work on the border and deploy technological solutions are underway, including the ongoing Single Row Fence (SRF) work at eight gaps and the installation of smart surveillance systems in smuggling and infiltration-prone areas.
Highlighting the cooperative relationship with the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB), Das mentioned the resolution of six pending development projects during Director General-level talks, with three projects pertaining to the northeastern state. Additionally, concurrence from BGB regarding the construction of SRF on 11 patches within 150 meters of the international border has been obtained, with progress made in removing fencing gaps and addressing unfenced spots.
As the BSF intensifies efforts to combat cross-border crimes, collaboration with the BGB and the implementation of comprehensive security measures remain pivotal in safeguarding the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura.
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