Shillong, Feb 24: The Border Security Force (BSF) today said the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) have agreed to ‘simultaneous coordinated joint patrolling’ to check trans-border crimes along the Indo-Bangla International border.
“We have identified as many as 68 patches in Meghalaya, which are vulnerable to various crimes, and a joint patrolling has been agreed by the BSF and BGB,” BSF IG Meghalaya Frontier PK Dubey told reporters.
He said that joint patrolling which will be taken up both day and night will be reviewed after every six months as criminals keep on changing their modus operandi.
“We have also come up with a mechanism where our nodal officers from both sides will share whatever intelligent inputs we get about trans-border crimes and joint action will be taken by both the forces,” he said.
The matter was signed in the form of a joint memorandum by the Director Generals of the two forces (BSF- BGB) during a recently concluded conference held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
On BGB request for joint investigation of crimes, he however, said this was turned down due to legal implication because this being a state subject and both border forces are not having any investigation powers because of the federal structure.
“We however said wherever heinous crimes are there we can jointly have spot verification to solve the crime but not investigation,” he added.On the menace of cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, the IG said that with reference to Meghalaya this is not a big issue because the number of cattle smuggled is very less as we have been able to check this to a great extent.
“However, we have sensitised the BGB to check and stop this menace,” he said.
Issue of breaching of border fencing was also taken up during the meeting in view that criminals from both the countries managed to cut the fence and crossover from Bangladesh.
According to the BSF IG, there are limited cases of breaching of border fencing and after measures were taken this has stopped for last one month.
On the claims of BGB that there are weapon factories across in India which are supplying to criminals, he said, “We denied this as this is wrong information with them and particularly in Meghalaya we assured there is none of them.”
He said one concern from them was smuggling of phensedyl and other contraband items (narcotics) which we assured to check in times to come.
On illegal immigration and human trafficking, he said that this is also an issue in some pockets of the state and the same was taken up with the Bangladesh counterpart requesting them that they should check their population.
Another concern expressed by the BSF was the delay in verification of the nationality of Bangladeshi nationals apprehended on Indian Territory.
“There are delays by BGB in verifying the nationality and as a result of this they (apprehended Bangladeshis) keep on lingering in our jails or somewhere in the police stations or with BSF as we can t repatriate or push them back to Bangladesh,” he said while informing that a request was made to BGB to reduce the time and verified them so that they can be sent back as early as possible.
Meanwhile, the issue pertaining to the recent obstruction by the BGB on the construction work of the Integrated Check Post at Dawki, West Jaintia Hills was also discussed during the conference.
“The reason was that the government has not exchanged the design of the ICP with Bangladesh government. So now these have been shared by BSF with BGB and perhaps now work will commence at the site after BGB gives permission,” he said.
Stating a decision was also taken not to adopt non lethal strategy on the border, he said we have observed that we should not kill any innocent people on the border so that relationship between the two countries is not spoiled.
“Trade is going on now with Bangladesh in a big way and Meghalaya is going to benefit because lots of stone, coal goes from here and if trade is disturbed economy of Meghalaya will also be disturbed,” he said.
According to him, the BGB was also urged not to allow criminals to cross the border at any cost so that firing may be avoided, which they have assured to do so.
