BSF seizes several Bangladeshi boats
SHILLONG: Smuggling of boulders by Bangladeshi anti-social elements from Indian side to that country has been going on unabated.
It is said that Bangladeshi anti-social elements often come in boats to Indian side to smuggle coal, boulders and even limestone.
BSF has seized several such Bangladeshi boats in the recent past.
Bangladeshi smugglers often cross over to Indian side through Jadukota river for illegal collection of boulders from Meghalaya side.
Earlier it was reported that the frequent collection of boulders by hundreds of Bangladeshi boatmen has changed the course of the Umngot river.
In fact, the state forest department had also expressed concerns over the smuggling of boulders from Umngot river by the Bangladeshis.
Meanwhile, some local residents admitted that Bangladeshi miscreants often cross over to Indian side and indulge in loot and other types of crimes.
“They (Bangladeshis) come to Indian side at night,” a resident said.
BSF Meghalaya Frontier IG Sudesh Kumar, meanwhile, said that the BSF has taken up this matter with Border Guard Bangladesh on several occasions.
“BGB is taking steps to stop this stealing of boulders from the Indian side,” he told reporters at Ranikor recently.
Stating that India exports boulders to Bangladesh through the available waterways, Kumar said that it is for the respective Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of police to sort out the matter even as he said that BSF is doing its bid to contain this illegal collection boulders.