Inflow of arms & ammunition
SHILLONG: The Centre has expressed concern over people’s unwillingness to provide land to fence the border saying that “otherwise free flow of arms and ammunition to the State from across the border will continue.”
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma recently blamed the Union government for the free flow of sophisticated weapons to the state.
“The job of the state government is to neutralise militant outfits, but whose job is it to prevent entry of sophisticated weapons? Isn’t it the duty of the central government?” Sangma had told journalists.
Sangma said this while reacting to the statement of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju who directed the State Government to act fast to end insurgency in Garo Hills.
Asked about the steps being taken by the Centre to address the concerns over smuggling of arms and ammunition from the neighbouring countries to Meghalaya , Joint Secretary, in-charge Northeast, Ministry of Home Affairs Shambu Singh over phone from Delhi, said, “We have advised the Chief Minister, during his recent visit to Delhi, that something needs to be done on the issue and fencing work of porous border has to be completed to contain smuggling of arms”.
“If people are ready to part with land, the Centre can complete the task of fencing the border in Meghalaya,” he said adding “otherwise the situation will remain the same.”
He also said that there is a limitation in deploying BSF personnel in the border in large scale as this would not be practical.
The BSF posted at the Meghalaya Frontier is guarding 443 kms of international border with Bangladesh.
The Centre in the past had sanctioned funds for border fencing on the international border and over 226 kms fencing work has been completed and work for over 106 kms is in progress.