New Delhi: As part of efforts to thwart
infiltration attempts, the BSF will erect additional border
posts, undertake fencing and carry out lighting work along the
frontiers.
Minister of State for Home Ajay Maken said additional
battalions will also be raised to cater to new duties of the
force, including anti-Naxal operations.
"Additional Border Out Posts (BOP) are being created
by the BSF. The aim is to reduce inter-BOP distance and carry
out effective vigil and patrolling along the Pakistan and
Bangladesh borders," Maken told reporters on the occasion of
the 45th Raising Day celebrations of the force here.
Maken said fencing and construction of roads along
these "large and porous" borders is being expedited.
BSF chief Raman Srivastava, while speaking on the
occasion, said the force has begun a "border domination"
exercise to effectively guard and keep a constant vigil on the
border.
The BSF guards more than 6,600 kilometres of border
area and has also deployed 10,000 personnel for anti-Naxal
operations in Chhattisgarh and Orissa.
Maken said BSF is carrying out civic action work in
Naxal areas by involving the local population.
The BSF has taken up the case with the civil
administration of Dhubri district, Assam PWD as well as
Brahmaputra Flood Control Board.
Of the total sanctioned length of border fencing of 90 km
in Assam, 73 km has been completed while work is in progress
in another 8 km.
In Meghalaya, of the total 481 km sanctioned length, 176
km has been completed and work is in progress in 114 km.
Meanwhile, two insurgents today surrendered to BSF at the
frontier headquarters here with arms and ammunitions.
Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) ?sergeant
major? Kemson Phangcho, a resident of Karbi Aonglong in Assam,
surrendered with a 9mm pistol, one magazine and some live
rounds.
Self-styled ULFA ?corporal? Doleshwar Gogoi of Golaghat
surrendered with a .32 pistol and six rounds.
According to a BSF statement 56 militants were held along the
Indo-Bangladesh in Assam and Meghalaya border this year, while
three others surrendered.
Altogether 289 infiltrators were also caught this year,
besides fake currency of the face value of Rs 2.92 lakh from
ten racketeers and contraband items worth Rs 5 crore.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 01, 2010, 19:17