Union Home Secretary reviews security on Indo-Bangla border

Ahead of the January 5 general elections in neighbouring Bangladesh, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami today reviewed security on the Indo-Bangla border which would be sealed during the polls.
Goswami held a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and also met senior security officials, including those of the West Bengal government.
Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said that 80 per cent of the meeting was devoted to the border with Bangladesh in view of the elections in the neighbouring country.
"The BSF authority also told Goswami about security along Indo-Bangla border. The Indo-Bangla border will be sealed during the general elections in the neighbouring country," Banerjee said.

To a question about the state government's demand on central funds for programmes on internal security and strengthening border vigil, Banerjee said that the matter was discussed.
Goswami on his part said "We discussed the law and order situation in the state along with several other issues. Discussion also centered around funds required to strengthen internal security."

Secretariat sources said that the state government sought Rs 138 crore in central funds for projects on internal security including tightening security along vulnerable riverine border with Bangladesh.
"The central funds to state government under various projects on internal security comes under the head of Border Area Development Programme and police modernisation," the sources said.

Goswami's meeting with the Chief Minister took place in the backdrop of her strong reservations over introduction of the Land Boundary Agreement Bill in the Rajya Sabha recently.
The Chief Minister had categorically said the state government would not implement it and that the state stood to lose more land under the agreement.
The Jalpaiguri bomb blast suspected to have been triggered by Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) leaving six people dead, also figured at the meeting.