Arrest draws attention towards lack of sufficient border haats
SHILLONG: A special patrolling party of BSF troops deployed at Baghmara, South Garo Hills apprehended four women Bangladeshi nationals while they were infiltrating into Indian territory.
During search, BSF recovered items including lungis (traditional garment worn around the waist), towels and washing soap besides Indian currency and Bangladesh Taka from their possession.
Upon interrogation, the women confessed to the BSF that they wanted to sell the items in Bhaghmara market.
The women were identified as Bina Hajong (35) and Nirma Sangma, both residents of Guchogram village under Durgapur police station, Netrakona district in Bangladesh, and Mallika Hajong (35) and Shivli Sangma (33) also residents of Netrakona district.
According to BSF, Baghmara area regularly witnesses such infiltration as people residing on the border in Bangladesh side want to sell their items to gain handsome money.
“The lack of sufficient border haats, prevent the border residents from using the normal transaction and instead compel them to sell their commodities after crossing the border illegally,” sources observed.
There are only two border haats (Kalaichar and Balat) in the 443 km long border area in Meghalaya and while four more have been sanctioned, they are yet to start functioning.
The border haats along the India-Bangladesh border are the enclosures constructed on the zero line and are opened once a week (Wednesdays for Kalaichar and Tuesdays for Balat) from 10 am to 3 pm. The commodities sold in these haats are exempted from customs duty.
