SHILLONG: In the wake of recent terror attack in Bangladesh, the Centre has set up a task force comprising senior officers of border states and paramilitary forces to identify cross border crimes along Indo-Bangladesh border.
The task force will headed by DGP, West Bengal with ADG(Border), Assam and IGs of North Bengal, South Bengal and Guwahati Frontier of BSF as its members.
The body has been created to strengthen the system at State level to identify the crime syndicate involved in Cross Border Crimes and to take action against such syndicates.
The task force will submit its report within one month, an official statement said.
As per the agreed Institutional Mechanism, DGPs of all bordering States will hold monthly meetings with IGs of BSFs in charge of that State regularly for effective coordination at State level to enhance security along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB).
This forum will ensure that FIRs are lodged by State police based on the complaints filed by BSF leading to arrest, investigation, charge sheet and conviction in border crimes.
The decision have been taken at a high-level meeting convened by Ministry of Home Affairs which was attended by senior officials of five bordering States on Indo-Bangladesh Border – Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram. The meeting was chaired by Susheel Kumar, Secretary (Border Management).
Home Secretary, Rajiv Mehrishi also gave his guidance to the States towards the end of the meeting. Secretary (BM) reviewed the situation in the light of heightened threat perception of infiltration.
Data of Apprehension of Cross Border Criminals being maintained by BSF will be shared with State Police of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram to develop Institutional Mechanism for tracking of follow up action on such criminals, the statement said.
In order to mitigate the problem of Indian villages located between fence and border and to enhance security along IBB, it was decided that fence will be shifted towards the zero line to bring Indian villages within the fence. The State Governments were asked to expedite land acquisition for Border Infrastructure works. (With inputs from PTI)
