2,098 held for entering India from Bangladesh

As many as 2,098 persons have been apprehended this year while they were trying to sneak into to the country from Bangladesh, government told the Lok Sabha.

Sixty persons were arrested this year while trying to enter the country illegally from Pakistan, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said.

"The government is taking adequate measures to check infiltration," he said answering supplementaries during Question Hour.

On the Indo-Bangla Border, 5,785 persons were arrested in 2006 while trying to enter the country illegally. This number came down to 4,553 in 2007, and 3,175 in 2008.

On the Indo-Pak border, 133 infiltrators were arrested in 2006, 10 in 2007 and 136 the next year, Raju said.

"These figures indicate a decline in cross border infiltration on these borders," Raju said.

He said the government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration which includes round-the-clock surveillance and patrolling on the borders and establishment of observation posts, construction of border fencing and flood lighting.

Raju said the measures being taken also include introduction of modern and hi-tech surveillance equipment, upgrading of the intelligence set up and coordination with the state government and concerned intelligence agencies.