BSF steps up vigil on Indo-Bangla border

The Border Security Force has intensified its vigil along the border with Bangladesh that goes to polls Dec 29, an official said in Agartala.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified its vigil along the border with Bangladesh that goes to polls Dec 29, an official said in Agartala on Saturday.

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"We have deployed additional BSF troopers all along the border with Bangladesh and asked the forces to maintain their strict vigil specially in the porous and riverine sections of the border," a senior BSF official told IANS.

"Senior BSF and intelligence officials have been holding a series of meetings with the commandant level and field officers of the Indian border guards to apprise them about the possible threat from across the border," said the official, requesting anonymity.

India shares a 4,095 km long border with Bangladesh.

The official said: "We have brought back three battalion BSF troopers, (which went to provide security in six states where assembly elections were held), by aircraft instead of rail and road transport."

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Friday held a meeting with the top officials at BSF frontier headquarters Shalbagan, near here.

"The chief minister asked the BSF to increase their security along the international border in view of the Bangladesh election and prevailing situation," the official said.

"The Bangladesh authorities have also launched operation against the outlawed gunmen and preventive detention was on in view of the Dec 29 general elections.

"As a result, huge number of Bangladeshi underworld cadres and criminals were anticipated to sneak into the Indian territory to take shelter," he said.

The Tripura police Wednesday arrested 31 Bangladeshi nationals who were working as labourers in a brick kiln in the northeastern state.