‘Low-quality border fence can’t stop influx’

‘Low-quality border fence can’t stop influx’

From Our Correspondent BADARPUR, June 25 – A four-member delegation comprising former MLA Ajoy Dutta and representatives of Barak-Brahmaputra Upatyaka Samannay Samiti (BBUSS) recently visited the Indo-Bangladesh border here and took stock of the situation in the sensitive area.They claimed that the low quality of the fencing erected by the Government cannot check unabated illegal infiltration from across the border.Taking exception to the deplorable condition of basic civic amenities in the area, the delegation was taken aback on witnessing the pitiable condition of roads, lack of culverts and drainage, besides the absence of watch towers. The four-member team was of the view that it must have been intentional on the part of New Delhi and Dispur to keep the border inhabitants languishing at the mercy of the Bangladeshi infiltrators, who in recent times were backed by trained cadres of various Dhaka-based militant outfits.Making a comparative assessment with the quality of boder fencing erected in Jammu and Kashmir, the delegation wondered how an ‘open’ border can check illegal infiltration. After the team toured several localities of Badarpur, including the Assamese-dominated village Bargol, it was felicitated by many organisations. Interacting with members of the public, the delegation concluded that peace and amity among the Assamese and Bengali communities was a continuing phenomenon in the district. Apart from ex-MLA Ajoy Dutta, who is an adviser of BBUSS and vice-president of Save Guwahati Build Guwahati, the team comprised social worker Dhiren Baruah, who too is an adviser of BBUSS and president of SGBG, BBUSS president Kailash Sharma, and GS of SGBG and BBUSS member Satyen Doloi. Source: assam tribune

Arms being smuggled through Barak Valley

Arms being smuggled through Barak Valley

From our Staff Reporter Sentinel assam
SILCHAR, June 20: A group of ULFA cadres belonging to the outfit’s 709th battalion is currently camping at Unokoti along the Tripura-Bangladesh border with a consignment of Chinese grenades, intelligence sources here revealed. The group has been waiting for several days for the right moment to sneak into Asom, added the sources.

According to the sources, Bangladeshi arms traffickers are active at Unokoti under the cover of the sizeable Muslim population living in Khasi hamlets of that area. A recent report of the Genes Intelligent Review (GIR), a leading US based defense analysis wing, claims that Chinese arms and ammunitions have started to reach the hands of north-east militant outfits in huge quantities through Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Illegal consignments of arms are being smuggled from the Unokoti foothills in the bordering Kailashar district of Tripura to Guwahati through Badarpur of Barak valley, the sources said. The huge consignment of arms recovered at Jorabat about six months back had also come through the same route, the sources claimed.

The Unokoti-Badarpur-Guwahati corridor is believed to be one of the four “safe passages” passing through the Barak valley. The valley, considered to be an island of peace, is used by various militant outfits of the region for illegal trafficking of arms and narcotics. Besides the ULFA, the KLO and the Maoists are using the Bhairengti (Mizoram)-Bhairabi (Hailakandi district)-Meghalaya-Asom route as their arms supply corridor, the sources revealed.

The other two favorite routes of the militants are the Moreh border at Manipur to Asom via Jiribam (Manipur) and Silchar, the district headquarter of Cachar district. The sources said that Silchar, surrounded by hilly terrains, also falls in another arms smuggling corridor from Kamalpur (Bangladesh)-Dimagiri (Mizoram) border to Guwahati via Lailapur and Bagabazar in Cachar district.

It is believed that several consignments of illegal arms and ammunitions are trafficked under the cover of essential commodities in goods carrier vehicles and this can be intercepted if the police becomes more vigilant. According to the sources, the Kanakpur Road leading to the National Highway in the outskirts of Silchar town is one such vulnerable area.

‘Steps taken to complete border fencing work at Karimganj’

From Our Correspondent KARIMGANJ, June 14 – Karimganj town on Indo-Bangladesh border would be excluded beyond the border fencing is the reponsibilities of Central Government not the responsibility of the State Government. While speaking to media persons Bhumidhar Barman, Revenue Minister disclosed this fact at Karimganj. “AASU has created tremendous pressure on the State government for quick execution of the border fencing works”, said the Minister. He said, “State Government has already taken up all necessary steps to complete the construction works within the stipulated time. But there are some problems arising in construction of border fencing in Karimganj town”.According to the Indira-Mujib agreement both the countries would leave 150 metres of land beyond the border fencing. If Assam Government follows this agreement, then vast areas of the town will fall in ‘no-mans’ land. Daspatti, East bazar, Bepin Paul Road, Charbazar would fall in ‘no-mans land’. Barman informed that State Government has already communicated the matter to the Central Government. To construct border fencing in Karimganj town the centre will have to discuss the matter with the Bangladesh govern-ment. However, the State Government arranged strict security arrangement on Assam-Bangladesh border so that infiltration from Bangladesh could be checked, said Dr Barman. “All matters relating to International boundary will be taken up by the Central Government”, he said.

Source: assam tribune