GUWAHATI, Feb 13 – Border management along the Assam-Bangladesh border is likely to see some major improvement in the days to come as the Government of India has decided to increase the strength of the Border Security Force (BSF) along the international border, while, a proposal has been mooted to increase police presence in the char areas with setting up of more char police stations.
Highly placed sources in the BSF told The Assam Tribune that the riverine international border in Dhubri district is always considered vulnerable as it is not easy to guard the border when the mighty river Brahmaputra is in full spate and smugglers and other anti-national elements always manage to take full advantage of the situation. But the situation will improve soon as the Government of India has decided to increase the strength of the border guarding force in the area.
BSF sources revealed that Assam has 134 kilometres of international border in Dhubri district, of which, 49 kilometres are riverine border, which is always considered the most vulnerable. Sources said that at present, three battalions of BSF are deployed in the Dhubri sector to guard the border there and one more battalion would be pressed into service shortly. The new battalion will be used mainly to guard the riverine international border, sources added.
The deployment of the new battalion along with additional boats will improve guarding of the riverine border, while, new border outposts in the chars located along the international border will also be established, which will reduce the gap between the existing outposts. The deployment of the new battalion is likely to be completed by March this year.
Meanwhile, commenting on the problems faced by the border guarding force in guarding the riverine border, BSF sources revealed that the riverine border is frequently used by smugglers, particularly cattle smugglers as there is no physical barrier in the area to prevent the same and it is impossible to guard every inch of the area round the clock. Though BSF personnel carry out regular patrolling by boats, that is not adequate while, the floating BOP concept was not very successful because of the fact that the water level of the Brahmaputra comes down during the dry season. Sources said that because of erosion, the char BOPs have to be shifted during the rainy season and there is very little presence of the administration in the chars located along the international border.
However, the situation is likely to see considerable improvement after the deployment of the new battalion and BSF is of the view that the Government should provide identity cards to Indian citizens living along the international border as soon as possible.
Highly placed sources in the BSF told The Assam Tribune that the riverine international border in Dhubri district is always considered vulnerable as it is not easy to guard the border when the mighty river Brahmaputra is in full spate and smugglers and other anti-national elements always manage to take full advantage of the situation. But the situation will improve soon as the Government of India has decided to increase the strength of the border guarding force in the area.
BSF sources revealed that Assam has 134 kilometres of international border in Dhubri district, of which, 49 kilometres are riverine border, which is always considered the most vulnerable. Sources said that at present, three battalions of BSF are deployed in the Dhubri sector to guard the border there and one more battalion would be pressed into service shortly. The new battalion will be used mainly to guard the riverine international border, sources added.
The deployment of the new battalion along with additional boats will improve guarding of the riverine border, while, new border outposts in the chars located along the international border will also be established, which will reduce the gap between the existing outposts. The deployment of the new battalion is likely to be completed by March this year.
Meanwhile, commenting on the problems faced by the border guarding force in guarding the riverine border, BSF sources revealed that the riverine border is frequently used by smugglers, particularly cattle smugglers as there is no physical barrier in the area to prevent the same and it is impossible to guard every inch of the area round the clock. Though BSF personnel carry out regular patrolling by boats, that is not adequate while, the floating BOP concept was not very successful because of the fact that the water level of the Brahmaputra comes down during the dry season. Sources said that because of erosion, the char BOPs have to be shifted during the rainy season and there is very little presence of the administration in the chars located along the international border.
However, the situation is likely to see considerable improvement after the deployment of the new battalion and BSF is of the view that the Government should provide identity cards to Indian citizens living along the international border as soon as possible.
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