Be vigilant against Rohingya influx, Rajnath tells states

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, December 7

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asked states on the Indo-Bangla border to remain vigilant against influx by Rohingyas into India. “The states should remain alert and conscious to foil any kind of illegal immigration,” the minister said.

Talking to mediapersons here after a meeting with representatives of states having border with Bangladesh, Rajnath announced that technological surveillance would be mounted on the unfenced areas of the Indo-Bangla border to stop infiltration from Bangladesh.

Rajnath said the total length of the Indo-Bangla border, which cuts across five states, is 4,096 km of which 3,006 km was fenced. “The remaining 1,090 km is not fenced since it is not possible to erect physical barriers on this patch of the border,” he added.

The Union Home Minister said it had been decided to set up “non-physical barrier” on the unfenced areas of the border. He said by “non-physical barrier, he meant mounting of heavy technological surveillance in the area with the help of camera, sensors, laser rays and radars. The “non-physical barrier” would be first introduced on the Indo-Bangla border in Assam’s Dhubri sector, Rajnath said.

The minister added that “border protection grid” would be introduced to strengthen security on the border. Different components of the grid would be physical and non-physical barriers on the border, Border Security Force (BSF), respective state police forces and various state and central intelligence agencies.

A standing committee headed by the chief secretary would supervise the working on the grid in his/her state, the minister said.

While the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Assam and Mizoram were present at the meeting today, Tripura and Meghalaya Chief Ministers gave the meeting a miss. However, senior officials from the two states took part in the meet.

Rajnath Singh said the meeting was continuation of similar meetings he had held with representatives of states on the Indo-China, Indo-Pakistan and the Indo-Myanmar border. He said even though India shared excellent relationship with Bangladesh, one should be in readiness for any eventuality as far as security was concerned.