BSF worried about influx of militants through Bangla border

The western sector along the Pakistan border may be relatively peaceful at the moment...

The western sector along the Pakistan border may be relatively peaceful at the moment but the eastern theatre along Bangladesh has the Border Security Force (BSF) increasingly worried.

Militants using Bangladesh to enter India were a matter of concern amid growing evidence of links between Harkat-ul-Jihadi-Islami (HuJI) and militant groups operating here, including in the Northeast, the BSF said on Thursday.

Having arrested several militants during the year, the BSF is pointing to the emerging nexus between HuJI and Pakistan-based militant groups like the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). Adding to this worry are reports about involvement of women in the extremist Islamic movement in Bangladesh.

“We have arrested 11 militants along the Bangladesh border. They belong to the LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Jagrat Bangla Jagrata Musalman (JMJB),” BSF Director General A K Mitra said.

Pointing out that a large portion of the 4,096-km border had still not been fenced, Mitra said the riverine stretches of the border posed their own problems. Nearly 1,116 kms of the 4,095-km border are along riverine stretches. Poor lighting and heavy rains also act as a challenge when it comes to patrolling the border, the BSF said. The Government has already given a go-ahead for floodlights along the entire fenced portion of the border.

The force is, however, optimistic about narrowing down differences with Bangladesh and Mitra said authorities there had been more forthcoming with information over the past few months. India has even sent back some convicts from Kolkata who were wanted by Bangladesh. “No criminal of any major importance has been given to India by Bangladesh,” Mitra admitted. But he referred to a change in “atmosphere” when it came to relations between the BSF and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR).

Meanwhile, with its resources stretched along the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders, the BSF is urging the Centre to sanction 49 new battalions over the next few years to ease the load. “We need reserves and greater deployment of personnel in some areas,” Mitra said. The force currently has 157 battalions.

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The BSF has also approached the pay commission for allowances at par with the Army since both worked in similar areas and in equally difficult conditions. “We’ve also requested them to restore the posts of Lance Naik and Naik to improve the promotion avenues of our personnel,” said Mitra.