Vigil along India-Myanmar border to be tightened

Concerned at the incidence of trans-border illegal activities, a top army General has urged tightening of vigil along Mizoram's border with Myanmar, an official said here on Monday.

Lt Gen Abhay Krishna, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 3 corps, issued the directive to the para-military Assam Rifles guarding the India-Myanmar border, the official said. Gen Krishna assumed charge of his new command recently.

"General Abhay Krishna during his two-day visit to Mizoram met senior Assam Rifles officials and discussed about the strengthening of security along the India-Myanmar border along Mizoram," a Mizoram home department official said.

"Gen Krishna gave strategic instructions to the para-military officials and troopers to check trans-border illegal activities," the official added.

Mizoram, which shares a 510-km border with Myanmar and a 318-km frontier with Bangladesh, has become a corridor for arms and drugs smuggling. Assam Rifles troopers guard the Myanmar border while the Border Security Force (BSF) are posted along the Bangladesh frontiers.

Assam Rifles troopers are posted along the 1,643-km India-Myanmar border abutting Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km).

The official said Gen Krishna spelt out the concerns of the armed forces towards trans-border illegal activities in the northeast and stressed the need for establishment of peace in the region in tune with the 'Act East' Policy of the central government.

Gen Krishna, who was accompanied by Brigadier M.V. Suchindra Kumar, also met Mizoram Governor Lt Gen Nirbhay Sharma (retd) in Raj Bhavan here and discussed the security situation in Mizoram.

Gen Krishna assumed command of 3 Corps in Rangapahar in Nagaland recently. The corps, also known as Spear Corps, plays a major role in counter-insurgency operations in the Indian Army's Eastern Command.

The 3 Corps is the largest field formation of the army and comprises troops deployed in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.