Security tightened along Indo-Bangla border to stop Rohingya influx
New Delhi, October 7: Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) K K Sharma said the force has stepped up vigil in the Indo-Bangla border and 140 vulnerable border out-posts of the force are being strengthened where Rohingyas could enter India.
The DG said they have assured the BSF that the policy of the Bangladeshi government is very clear and “does not allow” their soil to be used for any kind of terrorist activity, neither in their country nor against its neighbour India.
“We are also in touch with our sister agencies, the intelligence agencies, to identify and take action against the touts. Because, these people (Rohingya) cannot come on their own. There are organised criminals on both the sides who assist in their crossing over to India. So, we are mounting the campaign against the touts,” DG Sharma said.
Security has been tightened along Indo-Bangladesh border especially in Cachar and Karimganj districts of Assam to prevent infiltration by Rohingyas into India. Officials said that the regular checking of vehicles and persons is being done and all the border areas in the Barak valley have been on high alert since the past 2-3 days.
Earlier, the Assam police have arrested 6 Rohingias from Karimganj district recently and on the basis of their information police arrested another three persons in Tripura who helped them to entering into the Assam.
BSF officials have swung into action following intelligence inputs about possible influx of Rohingya refugees via porous border areas in Karimganj district of Barak valley. In Cachar district also police and BSF are maintaining tight vigil in border areas and other vital locations to stop possible infiltration.
Meanwhile, over 10,000 more Rohingya refugees fleeing a military crackdown at home in Myanmar’s Rakhine State have amassed near a crossing point with Bangladesh awaiting entry into the neighboring country.
According to United Nations’s report, 480000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since violence broke out in Myanmar on 25th of August, increasing its estimate by 45,000 in last few weeks.
India has committed to helping Bangladesh cope with the huge influx, sending 7,000 tons of relief material to the refugee camps. In addition, New Delhi and Dhaka have reportedly stepped up cooperation to identify extremists and radicalised people within the refugee population.