Infiltration from Bangladesh cannot be ruled out: BSF

The BSF today said infiltration, movement of militants and smuggling of arms from Bangladesh into India through the porous international border in Meghalaya cannot be ruled out.
     
"Smuggling of arms and cross-border movement of militants cannot be ruled out. The nature of border is very hostile and it is difficult to completely check the menace unless the fencing project is completed," BSF inspector general (Assam and Meghalaya frontier) Prithvi Raj said.
   
The statement comes close on the heels of intelligence inputs indicating that the porous Meghalaya-Bangladesh border continues to be a major route for entry of militants from Bangladesh and transshipment of arms and explosives into India.
   
Revelations from a couple of top arrested militants had prompted the BSF to strengthen vigil along the border, particularly in the Garo hills belt of Meghalaya.
   
"We have come across the reports and have alerted our troops to be on maximum alert. We are using maximum resources available to contain illegal movements," the BSF IG said.
   
The militants taking shelter in Bangladesh are "under pressure" in the neighbouring country and so there is a tendency to escape into the Indian side, he added.

"The border is interspersed with hill tracts, riverine areas and thick jungles. So the movement of insurgents cannot be ruled out. Only when the fencing project is complete, we can expect that the movement can be stopped completely," he said.
   
Of the total 565 km of barbed fencing sanctioned along the Bangladesh border in Assam-Meghalaya, 178 km has been completed, while work is in progress on another 122 km stretch.
   
Of the remaining 265 km, Meghalaya government has not given the 'go ahead' for about 135 km stretch following protests from villagers who apprehend that they will lose land when the fencing comes up.
   
Till April 15 this year, the BSF has killed two ULFA militants and apprehended ten other militants along with a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
   
Two fake currency racketeers, besides 15 Indian and 39 Bangladeshi nationals, were also arrested for crossing the border illegally during this period.
   
Contraband items, including smuggled cattle, worth Rs16.5 crore were also seized from the border areas in Assam and Meghalaya during the period.