Infiltration bids continue at India-Bangladesh border

Animesh Singh

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12

Normal trade through the five international check posts (ICPs) and 26 land customs stations on the India-Bangladesh border has resumed after a brief disruption owing to the political crisis in the neighbouring nation.

Yet attempts of infiltrations are being regularly foiled by the BSF even as it has managed to prevent large gatherings of Bangladeshi nationals — consisting of minority communities — from near the Indian borders through peaceful measures.

One such incident of attempted infiltration occurred on Monday at the Tripura sector when BSF personnel prevented a group of around 15 Bangladeshi nationals from forcibly entering Indian territory in the Paharmura area of Tripura.

Meanwhile, sources aware of the developments said that the pre-Bangladesh crisis status quo is now being maintained on the border as trade activities through all the five ICPs and 26 land custom stations have begun and also regular visitors from the neighbouring nation — who were visiting India prior to the political crisis — with valid passports and visa for official, personal and medical purposes too are being allowed to travel into India.

At the same time, incidents of attempted infiltration apart from those of public gathering of Bangladeshi nationals near the border are being regularly negotiated and foiled by the BSF.

BSF officials, however, downplayed the Monday incident, calling it a routine attempt at infiltration. They said it had nothing to do with the ongoing unrest in Bangladesh. According to sources, the incident took place during daytime when a group of around 12 to 15 Bangladeshi nationals, taking advantage of inclement weather and poor visibility, tried to forcibly cross over through the border fencing.

The infiltrators were challenged by BSF troops and to prevent them from entering, one round of pump action gun was fired. Subsequently, the intruders fled towards Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard has increased surveillance to stall any attempts of illegal migration through sea routes following the unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh.