Seal Indo-Bangla border on a war footing: Assam CM to BSF

Guwahati: In sync with his promise of sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked the Border Security Force (BSF) to ensure sealing of border on a war footing.

Chairing a high level meeting with the top brass of the BSF led by its Director General K.K. Sharma, at his office on Friday CM Sonowal asked the border sentinels to ensure erection of fencing expeditiously for a safe and fool- proof border with the neighbouring country.

Sonowal also asked the BSF to make use of ‘smart technological solutions’ like laser walls and surveillance gadgets to keep security at the frontiers at all times.

The Assam CM also asked the BSF to remove all challenges coming in the way of ensuring a secured border at the earliest.

Erection of fencing along the border including ‘riverine’ areas has to be dealt with resolutely ‘if we want to make our borders safe’, Sonowal exhorted.

“It is a part of our pledge that we will completely seal international border with Bangladesh in order to keep infiltration and smuggling from across the border at bay,” Sonowal said.

Referring to BSF’s observation that 42 km stretch in Dhubri sectior ‘is challenging’, Sonowal assured all help from the Government including technological solutions to seal border and keep the state free from infiltration.

Assam Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Commissioner and Secretary of Home department L.S. Changsan were also present at the meeting.

On June 2, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had ordered to the officials of Home ministry and BSF to completely seal the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam by June, 2017.

During a high level meeting of Home ministry held in New Delhi, the Union Home Minister also ordered to adequate deploy of BSF battalions along the Indo-Bangladesh bordering areas.

Director General of BSF KK Sarma had visited the bordering areas in Karimganj district on June 3.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)