Steps to create 2nd line of defence

GUWAHATI, March 10: As erection of border fencing and posting of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have failed to effectively check the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Assam, steps have been initiated to create a second line of defence just behind the BSF line to check the foreigners who manage to sneak through the barriers. Official sources said here that 28 places have been selected along the 270 km-long Assam-Bangladesh border for the posting of the second line of defence comprising personnel from the Border Police Force to check influx of the illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Of these 28 posts, 14 will be in the Dhubri sector, while the remaining will be in the Barak valley. These posts have been selected according to the vulnerability of the area, sources said. Altogether eight posts of the second line of defence have started functioning, of which four are in Dhubri district and the remaining four are in Karimganj. Sources said that the posts are placed at Binnachora, Gaurjapsabari, Mankachar and Jardanga in Dhubri and in Kukital, Latu, Jorapata and Seralipur in Karimganj district. According to the plan, each of the posts of the second line of defence would have 30 personnel headed by one sub-inspector, and there will also be armed personnel to check the influx of foreigners effectively. Sources also revealed each post would have two vehicles, one light and one heavy, to facilitate movement of the personnel posted in the posts. Lack of accommodation to keep the personnel posted in the second line of defence has created a serious problems. However, the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 1.50 crore for construction of posts of the second line of defence and an amount of Rs 60.50 crore has been released for the construction of 11 posts. Sources said that 11 posts, three in Dhubri, two in Cachar and six in Karimganj district would be constructed with the money released so far. Sources, however, pointed out that the money released so far, would not be adequate to complete the construction of 11 posts as some of the areas considered to be vulnerable to infiltration are in low-lying places and high-rise posts would have to be constructed to accommodate the personnel of the second line of defence. It may be mentioned here that the Border Police personnel, posted behind the BSF are much more effective in detecting foreigners despite the constrains faced by them. According to records available with the state government, the Border Police detects at least 800 illegal migrants every year, while, during the period from 1986 to 1999, the BSF personnel could detect only 294 foreigners. As per record available, the Border Personnel, presently working under the Prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners (PIF) scheme, detected 871 illegal migrants last year and in the month of January this year, detected 52 migrants. The situation has become more alarming of late as the Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence (ISI)-backed militants have also started to sneak into Assam from Bangladesh, and it is expected that the creation of the second line of defence would improve the situation. The posts of the Border Police Force, presently working under the PIF scheme, are located much inside the border, and as the people living in the border areas of Assam are ethnically similar to the people from across the border, it is very difficult to detect a migrant once he is inside India. Moreover, the posts of the Border Police are in dilapidated state, and on most occasions the Border Police personnel are engaged in normal law-and-order duties. Shortage of boats also creates problems for the Border Police to check influx through the riverine border. However, sources said that the personnel of the newly created second line of defence would be posted nearer to the border, and they would be engaged exclusively for detecting illegal migrants. It may be mentioned here that during a visit to the international border in Dhubri sector last year, this correspondent witnessed that despite the presence of the BSF and erection of border fencing, unabated infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals was going on. The distance between the BSF posts along the border and lack of lighting facilities made it easier for the foreigners to sneak into Assam. The condition of the fencing also left much to be desired as the fencing as well as the gates in the fencing broke down in several parts, making it easier for the foreigners to come into the country without any hurdles. Lack of proper coordination between the BSF and the Police was also evident last year, but official sources said that of late, steps have been initiated for joint patrolling by the BSF and Assam Police personnel along with the border to check infiltration of foreigners.