Indo-Bangla border fencing work to start in March

AGARTALA, February 14: The much-awaited barbed-wire fencing along the 855-km stretch of Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura will start next month. Barbed-wire fencing was felt as an immediate need to check the trans-border movement of the militants from their base camps in Bangladesh through the highly porous border that pierces the inaccessible hilly terrains, deep forests and plains. The militants used to intrude into Tripura territory often and after committing massacres and violence of all kinds, they just cross over to Bangladesh, leaving the police and security forces in the lurch. Almost all the kidnapped persons were also taken to Bangladesh hideouts and kept there hostage by the militants. It is viewed that when the fencing would come up, it would not only help contain the militancy to a great extent but also prevent smuggling and other border crimes. In a high-level meeting the Tripura Government officials and the Central agencies at the Secretariat on Tuesday, the decision was taken to fence the 40 km stretch of the border, mainly in the northern part. For the purpose, the Border Roads Organisation's (BRO), proposal and estimation of Rs 8.75 crore has been approved. Chief Engineer S Nag said, "If things go right, then the works for the same would start by March 15 next." Accordingly, the first work of erecting the barbed-wire fence would be taken up at the Simna-Sibbari stretch in West and Dhalai districts and Raghna-Tarakpur in the North district. In the second phase, the work for erecting fence is expected to cover the border areas of Jaleya near Raisyabari to Boalkhali in the South district which is 39-km-long and is expected to cost around Rs 11 crore if the cost at the rate of Rs 28 lakh per kilometre is taken into account. As per convention, the border fence is to be erected to the Punjab way with a 150-yard no-man's land between the line of demarcation. The height of the border fence would be 2.6 metres and will be a dual one with cris-cross barb laying in-between. It may be mentioned that according to the initial plan, 554 km of border fencing was targeted which was reduced to 191 during the first phase. Before, the next phase of the work begins, a joint survey is to be undertaken and the fate of the remaining portion of the border depends upon the outcome of the survey. But, the priority remains the hilly and inaccessible areas over the plain and habitable areas. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, Deputy Secretary (MHA) for NE D K Singh, Commissioner for Border (NE) P L Thanga, Chief Secretary V Thulasidas, DGP BL Vohra, IGP K Saleem Ali besides senior officers of BSF, BRO and Army.