SHILLONG, Nov 30: As much as 30 per cent of the border fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya is yet to be completed and the delay has been caused due to various factors, primarily land acquisition hurdles, the Border Security Force (BSF) said on Tuesday.
Earlier in January this year, the BSF had announced that 70 per cent of the border fencing had been completed and even expressed hope that the rest of the 30 per cent would be completed within the span of a year.
Speaking to reporters here, BSF Meghalaya Frontier DIG (PSO), D Haokip, while talking about land acquisition issues informed that the majority of the stretch where the fencing is still incomplete falls under East Khasi Hills and a few patches of Jaintia Hills region.
According to the DIG, the local residents demand that the fencing be erected from zero line, which, he added, is not possible due to the international norms that bind to both India and even to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.
He said that the fencing would have to be set up beyond 150 yards.
Allaying fears of locals over losing their agricultural lands to Bangladesh if fencing is erected beyond 150 yards, Haokip said that the question does not arise since the international border is well demarcated.
Haokip said that they had made a request on humanitarian grounds to erect the fencing right in the border in areas where the villages are in close proximity to the international border.
“We take permission and concurrence from the Bangladesh government or through the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh). A single-row fencing is constructed right on the border or may be 10 or 15 yards from the zero line, according to the situation,” the BSF DIG (PSO) added.
CATTLE SMUGGLING
On the sidelines, the BSF DIG (PSO) credited the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, for the decrease in cattle smuggling cases along the Indo-Bangla international border in Meghalaya. He said that the number of cattle head seizures along the international border had come down after the Assam government came up with the legislation.
“As per the data, the number of cattle seized by the BSF has come down in comparison to last year,” Hoakip said.
Providing figures, he said the BSF had seized a total number of 2,929 cattle heads worth Rs 45.70 lakh between January and November 30, this year.
BSF personnel had recently seized a total of 17 cattle from East Jaintia Hills along the international border, and during last year, more than 10,000 cattle were recovered along the Indo-Bangla border in the state.
Meanwhile, the BSF during the period January-November this year, had also seized 5,911 bottles of liquor, 566 bottles of phensedyl, Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) worth Rs 9.35 lakh, 35.4 kg of ganja, 782 numbers of Yaba tablets and other items.
Haokip also informed that the BSF apprehended 97 Indian nationals, 58 Bangladeshi and three other nationals along with criminals and smugglers along the border in 2021.
“We had also handed over nine Bangladeshi nationals who inadvertently crossed the international border to the BGB on humanitarian ground,” he added.
The 444.8 km-long international border with Bangladesh in Meghalaya has patches of unfenced areas which are prone to infiltration, smuggling and cross border crimes, the BSF official said.
57th Raising Day
The Border Security Force (BSF), tasked with guarding the international borders, will celebrate its 57th Raising Day on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, BSF Meghalaya Frontier DIG (PSO), D Haokip, said that from 25 battalions on the day of its inception, it has become 192-battalion (including four Disaster Management Battalion) strong.
“Baptised with fire in operations, the nascent force grew from strength to strength to become one of the best and trusted professional forces in the country. The crucial role played by the BSF in liberation of Bangladesh during 1971 Indo-Pak War is unforgettable,” Haokip said.
“We have played an important role in the nation’s security matrix. The gallant role played by BSF during the militancy with Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and the North East and recently in the areas affected by Left Wing Extremism has been applauded by one and all,” the BSF DIG added.
Haokip also recalled the role played by the BSF during COVID-19-induced lockdowns stating that BSF Meghalaya distributed food and essential items and organised awareness campaigns in collaboration with several NGOs of the state.