Shillong: There has been a decline in the number of foreign nationals arrested for infiltrating along the Indo-Bangla border, an official statement said on Thursday.
Till June this year, 991 foreign infiltrators were held
along the Indo-Bangla border while 2559 such persons were
apprehended last year. In 2007 and 2006, the figures were 4206
and 5130 respectively, the statement issued by Union Home
Ministry said here.
The Government has adopted a "multi-pronged approach" to
contain cross-border infiltration which includes round the
clock surveillance and patrolling on the borders and
establishment of observation posts, the statement said.
Priority has also been given to expedite construction of
border fencing and flood lighting, introduction of modern
surveillance equipment, upgradation of intelligence set up and
coordination with the state governments concerned, it said.
Official records say about 1800 kms of fencing along the
border has been completed under Phase II of the project.
Replacement of 376 km of fencing has also been completed
under Phase III. A total of 2579.22 km of fencing and 1422.45
km of roads under Phase II are scheduled to be completed at a
cost of Rs 4393.67 crore within 2010, the records said.
It said 861.72 km of fencing under Phase III would also
be completed by 2010 at a cost of Rs 884 crore. The
installation of floodlighting works is also in progress in
about 2840.90 km stretch, mostly in the Bengal sector.
A total of 383 border outposts would also be set up by
2014, the records said.
Bureau Report
