'Must be very cautious on friendly Nepal, Bhutan borders'

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Friday asked border guarding forces to check anti-national elements from taking advantage of the country's friendly relations with its neighbours for perpetrating their evil designs.

Calling the task of guarding open and friendly borders with countries like Nepal and Bhutan a "big challenge", he said security forces tasked to guard these frontiers should ensure "total curb" on illegal activities along land frontier areas.

"We have open borders with some countries as we have very old friendly relations with them. People can move across in these areas without any problem but we have seen anti-national elements take advantage of this... this is a big challenge.

"The security forces should render their duties with utmost sincerity in these areas keeping in mind that no one is able to take advantage of these friendly relations and carry out any illegal activity against the country. The forces should ensure a total curb on such activities," he said while addressing SSB troops during their golden jubilee celebrations in New Delhi.

The Sashastra Seema Bal is the designated force to guard the open Indian borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Another paramilitary BSF, guards India's border with Bangladesh.

Shinde also asked the force to continue undertaking social welfare activities like providing education and healthcare to people living in border areas.

The home minister, who met officers and jawans at the SSB camp in south Delhi, announced quick sanction of funds for the forces' officers training academy in Srinagar in Uttarakhand which was damaged during the recent rain fury in the state.

Image: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde