SHILLONG, Nov 25 ? Number of illegal entrants, apprehended along the Indo-Bangladesh border by the BSF, was on the rise till October this year as compared to the past two years. Altogether 237 illegal entrants were apprehended till October 31, 2004 as against 228 in 2003 and 137 in 2002, according to a report released today by the BSF?s Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland (AMMN) frontier, headquartered here.
Stating the seizure data of narcotics and forest produces during the corresponding time in the ongoing year also indicated an upward turn, the report said the overall seizure figures showed items worth over Rs. 7.8 crore were recovered till October 31 this year, as compared to over Rs. 6.52 crore in 2003 and more than Rs. 7.91 crore in 2002.
Till October 31 this year, forest produces worth over Rs. 3.45 crore were seized as against Rs. 1.16 crore forest produces in 2003 and Rs. 3.08 crore in 2002, the report said. During the same period of current year 312 smugglers were nabbed by the BSF along the boundary. The figures were 603 and 234 in 2003 and 2002 respectively, the report said.
While three arms were seized by the border guards in 2002, this went up to eight the next year. Five such arms were recovered this year. The BSF personnel keep vigil on a border area of 70.3 km land, 49.7 riverine and 13 km semi-riverine strech. Of the border area, 134 km falls in Assam.