TURA: Frequent crimes being perpetrated by criminals from neighbouring Bangladesh who cross into Garo Hills territory unchallenged has compelled the Garo Students’ Union to question the ‘vigil’ by the Border Security Force personnel.
The GSU southern zone has petitioned the Inspector General (IG) of the BSF for Meghalaya Frontier, Shillong, through a memorandum raising concern over the manner in which cross border criminals have been striking with impunity inside Garo Hills villages bordering the international border in South Garo Hills.
“Bangladeshi criminals are easily crossing the Indian border and committing crimes such as dacoity, kidnapping of Indian citizens and stealing cattle despite BSF patrolling at the border region. There is a big question mark whether the patrolling parties are performing their duties sincerely?” questioned GSU leader Chuba Marak in the union’s memorandum.
Highlighting a recent case of cattle lifting by cross border criminals, the students’ union mentioned how ten numbers of matured cattle along with its calf were taken away by criminals from Dabram village of South Garo Hills into Bangladesh.
They mentioned that a complaint was lodged with the BSF company commander of Dabram and similar complaints have been raised with the border force but even then security in the border areas remain a point of concern.
“The local people living along the Indo-Bangla border area have made complaints to the nearest BSF outposts on several occasions but there have been no effective reaction or improvement on the security part,” mentioned the GSU in their letter to the BSF authorities.
