NEWS

BSF to suggest joint patrolling with BDR

By M Chhaya in Kolkata
April 09, 2003 20:35 IST

The Border Security Force would suggest joint patrolling to avoid standoffs like the ones witnessed of late and evolve an effective mechanism to maintain vigil along the porous India-Bangladesh border.

BSF chief Ajai Raj Sharma is expected to place this suggestion before Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) authorities when he visits Dhaka on April 27.

The vigil along the over 4000-km long border could be made more effective if guards on both sides coordinated their movements by earmarking stretches and sharing intelligence, BSF sources in Kolkata said.

The Indo-Bangla border has, in recent times, witnesses several standoffs between the BSF and the BDR, mostly over Bangladeshis illegally crossing over to India.

The meeting will discuss ways and means of avoiding frequent disagreements between BSF and BDR personnel over issues like smuggling, infiltration and illegal migration and Sharma is expected to suggest some confidence-building measures to the BDR.

New Delhi also believes that some elements are using Bangladeshi territory for anti-India activities though Dhaka denies it. India has handed over to Bangladesh a list of 99 terrorist camps inside its territory.

Sharma is expected to firmly tell the BDR to rein in such elements and prevent illegal movement of anti-India forces across the border.

 

M Chhaya in Kolkata

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