India needs to be vigilant as much on the Bangladesh border as on the LOC. Dhaka has already alerted New Delhi on the threat. In 2016 terrorist infiltration from Bangla into India increased over three times. West Bengal, Assam and Tripura were affected by the penetration of Harkat-ul-Jahad al- Islam (HUJI) and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). It is estimated that about 2000 operatives of the two terror groups sneaked into the Indian Border States. Indian Intelligence had grossly underestimated the figure. Not that it was caught unawares. JMB was known to be behind the Burdwan blast in 2014 killing two suspected terrorists. A bomb making unit was unearthed. Terrorists also had a role in the Dhaka Café attack in July last year. Twenty hostages died. One of them was an Indian National. All this indicates that Bangla terrorists have contacts inside India. The Bangladesh Government is putting the screws on extremists in that country. It is a pity that Indian Border States allow to be smuggled in to safety.
The Bangladesh border is riverine and porous making it difficult for the BSF to patrol it. What is needed is technological support and greater coordination between the two countries. The border is also a haven for smugglers and human trafficking which helps terrorist movement. There should be a concerted offensive to crush all kinds of criminal activity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit next month should be an occasion for the two governments to evolve an effective strategy.
