By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Border Security Force (BSF), involved in the manning of 443 kilometers of Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya is compelled to face various problems including logistical challenges for effective management of the International border.
The biggest problem for BSF in Meghalaya is elephant attacks as often herds of elephants destroy the border fencing besides injuring many BSF sleuths in the remote border outposts of the State.
It is said that the elephants have a fixed route and the elephants often cross the border in groups making it a risky affair for the BSF sleuths manning the border and BSF sometimes use fire and drums to drive them away.
Sometimes even the militants make use of these elephants and trail behind herds to cross over to India.
Facing constant attacks from elephant, the BSF has sent a proposal to the Union Government for constructing elephant corridors in these areas.
“There will be no fencing in these corridors and we will put up towers in these areas which will be manned by our personnel,” BSF PRO Ravi Gandhi told The Shillong Times.
The second challenge for BSF is mosquitoes and its effect of Malaria as BSF personnel are manning the border in difficult terrain full of thick jungles.
Some sleuths say that their personnel die more because of malaria than militants and last year some jawans died because of malaria.
However, according to Gandhi, the BSF is taking precautions and medicines are also being administered to jawans to save them from malaria and other diseases.
Similarly, connectivity and poor roads is a major bottleneck when it comes to border roads.
A visit to Dalu revealed that the entire road from Tura to Dalu BOP is treacherous and narrow besides full of potholes making it a horrible ride for not only BSF sleuths but even the civilians.
Mobile and internet connectivity is another hurdle as network is weak not only in border areas but even the approaching roads to border outposts.
“In south Garo Hills there is no connectivity at all but network is partially there in West Garo Hills,” he said.
If the cellular connectivity can be improved not only BSF personnel but even common citizens along the internal areas can be largely benefitted.