SHILLONG: In the midst of the Border Security Force (BSF) drawing flak over the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, the Inspector General (IG) of BSF, Kuldeep Saini, has asserted that necessary directions have been made to all units not to frequently change troops at border outposts and not to stop BSF vehicles in populated area en route to the border. The movement of vehicles will also be restricted, according to the IG.
Saini was responding to a letter from Mawsynram MLA, HM Shangpliang, who had urged the former to stop deploying forces from outside into the border outposts falling under the Mawsynram Constituency, until the pandemic situation returns to normalcy.
It may be mentioned that these BSF outposts are located all along the Indo-Bangla border from Dangar village to Hatmawdon.
Shangpliang claimed that the BSF personnel are being shifted on roster duties very frequently in these outposts and fresh replacements from outside the state have sent a wave of panic among the citizens of the area.
“The movement of the BSF trucks and jawans all along the road from Mawsynram to the border areas may kindly be contained and restricted since the jawans are in the habit of alighting from their vehicles in order to have tea and snacks in the local tea stalls along the route, thus causing fear and panic among the villagers,” Shangpliang said.
The BSF IG has, however, informed that BSF persons returning from leave are being quarantined for 14 days at designated quarantine centres and those who test negative after conducting RT-PCR test are only allowed to perform duties.
“You will appreciate that even during this pandemic, BSF has to guard the border to avoid illegal crossing and other unlawful activities in that area. Therefore, for operational and administrative duties, troops have to move. However, troops stationed there have also been asked to follow strict COVID protocol,” Saini said.
Meanwhile, the executive committee of the Mawsynram Dorbar Shnong has urged the BSF personnel to not halt en route, thereby creating panic among the residents.