Strict vigil along Indo-Bangla border ahead of B'desh general polls

The Border Security Force (BSF) has strengthened the security along the India-Bangladesh frontiers ahead of the general elections in Bangladesh on December 30, officials said on Friday.

"In view of the general elections in Bangladesh, we have augmented the vigil along the India-Bangladesh borders. Our troopers are always ready to deal with any worst situation," BSF Tripura Frontier Inspector General Hemant Kumar Lohia told the media.

Ruling out the possibilities of mass infiltration of Myanmar's Rohingyas from across the border, Lohia said the BSF was also alerted to prevent sporadic infiltration of Rohingyas and others.

"During the past one year, around 100 Rohingyas had infiltrated into Tripura through different borders. The BSF and other security agencies apprehended them and have taken appropriate legal actions," said Lohia, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre.

He said "our troopers have seized contraband, smuggled goods including drugs worth around Rs 38 crore during the past eight months".

The senior BSF officer also said the para-military force has done an excellent job, taming terrorism in Tripura and other northeastern states and motivating many terrorists to surrender and join the mainstream.

The official said that the Tripura frontier of the BSF this year has been adjudged the best intelligence team and best welfare battalion. It has also been named the Runner-Up for the General Chowdhury Trophy for overall performance.

These awards would be soon conferred on it at a function in New Delhi.

--IANS

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