IN an effort to check illegal migration, trans-border movement of militants and crimes, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) are working out modalities to undertake joint patrolling along the Indo-Bangla border. The BSF is modernising and strengthening the force by deploying more personnel to check these. Thermal imagers, ultra-violate detector would be provided to the forces. The communication system is also being modernised and up gradation of communication security, strengthening of intelligence gathering tools and electronic counter measures are also being undertaken. The BSF is also being trained in modern technology and equipment like grenade simulator, video presentation system and electronic control target system.

As many as 15 battalions of BSF are deployed to guard the 1,333.5-km Indo-Bangla border with Tripura, Cachar and Mizoram (TCM), out of which eleven battalions were deployed along the Tripura border. Two more battalion would be deployed along the Tripura border. Currently the distance between two Border Out Post (BOP) is nearly six to seven km and after the deployment of two more BSF battalion, this will reduce. New BOPs will be set up in addition to the existing 147. 736-km Indo-Bangla border along Tripura, 141.168-km in Cachar and 400-km along the border with Mizoram will be fenced. 11.5-km of fencing along Tripura and 68.25-km fencing along Cachar had been completed, while work for barbed wire fencing was now under progress in the remaining border on a war footing, according to BSF.

The entire border fencing works will be completed by 2007. For better patrolling and surveillance along the border, over 900-km border road was constructed in the TCM Frontier, which would not only facilitate movements of BSF but also boost the economy of the border areas. The BSF had seized contraband goods worth Rs four crore and apprehended 852 smugglers and illegal entrants during this year in the TCM frontier. It also nabbed 41 hardcore militants and collaborators, while 13 tribal guerrillas surrendered to the para-military force in this year in Tripura.

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