SHILLONG: The recently launched ‘Ops Alert’ by the Border Security Force (BSF) on the Indo-Bangladesh border to curb and prevent any trans-border crime by augmenting manpower from various headquarters in view of the South Asian Games, has paid rich dividends.
The operation which began on February 6 has resulted in many Bangladeshi nationals being apprehended by the BSF on the border.
On Saturday, the BSF troops deployed at Dawki apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals while they were infiltrating from Bangladesh into India.
They were identified as Akram (35) and Md. Sameen (24), both from Sylhet district of Bangladesh. They told the BSF that they had entered India by mistake.
In another incident on the same day, the BSF troops deployed at border outpost in Dipulipara, West Garo Hills, apprehended one Bangladeshi national namely Jagdish Rajbhor (63) hailing from Mymensing district of Bangladesh while he was crossing into India to allegedly gather strayed cattle.
Earlier on February 9, the BSF men posted at Bagli, South West Khasi Hills, had apprehended four Garos, including a woman, from Bangladesh while they were infiltrating into Meghalaya in search of jobs in coal mines.
When contacted, BSF DIG, Mahendra Singh, said that the ‘Ops Alert’ was launched specifically to check cross border movement aimed at ensuring security in border.
“We have deployed maximum staff drawn from various sectors in the State to augment forces in the border out posts to check infiltration,” the official said, while adding that due to this the movement of militants in the Garo Hills border areas was controlled.
The official said that as many as 45 companies of BSF personnel are keeping vigil all along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya sector to ensure a peaceful South Asian Games.
According to the BSF, Bangladeshi nationals have continuously been denting peaceful environment and sanctity of the international border.
All the apprehended Bangladeshi nationals were handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) as a goodwill gesture in accordance with the Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) agreed upon by both the nations.
The BSF had registered its protest before BGB against the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals to Meghalaya. In turn, BGB authorities have assured to take legal action against the culprits.
