High- level meet for Indo- Bangla border security

In view of the recent incidents of terror in Bangladesh, the home ministry on Wednesday held a high- level security meeting to review the situation along the IndoBangla border. Senior officials from five states that share border with Bangladesh — West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram — also participated in the meeting.

Apart from security along the border, crossborder terrorism and infiltration, other issues that were discussed at the meeting were non- registration of cases, arrest and investigation as well as chargesheet and conviction in border crimes, problem of forged identity cards, cattle smuggling and cultivation of poppy in border areas. Fencing along the entire Indo- Bangladesh border was discussed in detail.

Ministry officials said the decision was taken to constitute an institutional mechanism, according to which director- generals of police of all bordering states will hold monthly meetings with senior officers of BSF in their respective states for effective co- ordination to enhance security along the Indo- Bangladesh border.

This forum will also ensure that FIRs are lodged by the state police based on the complaints filed by BSF leading to arrest, investigation, chargesheet and conviction in border crimes.

Similarly a task force, headed by DGP, West Bengal, with additional DG ( border) of Assam and BSF’s inspector- generals of North Bengal, South Bengal and Guwahati Frontier as its members has been formed.