Guwahati, Jan 8:  The Border Security Force (BSF) today stated that there was no fresh input about presence of camp of North East militants in neighbouring Bangladesh as on date.

Inspector General (IG) of the BSF, Meghalaya Frontier, Hardeep Singh while talking to the media in Shillong informed the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) had informed them that there was no camp of NE militants in Bangladesh. 

On being asked about the increasing instances of Bangladeshis assaulting Indian citizens after entering Indian territory, he said that the BSF had mounted its surveillance along the border and a strong protest had also been lodged with the BGB in this regard.

The IG, BSF expressed optimism that the long pending construction of fencing along the entire 443 kilometres stretch of international border between India and Bangladesh in Meghalaya would be completed within a year. He informed that already 70 per cent the entire stretch of the border has been fenced.

Stating that the implementing agency is willing to continue the construction of the fencing in the remaining portions, he added there were few patches where BSF needed clearance from BGB for the construction to continue.

He pointed out that laid down norms don’t allow construction of border fencing along the zero line and added that issues pertaining to land acquisition was being pursued with Government of Meghalaya. The may be constructed at a distance of 150 years on either side from the zero line. 

The BSF official informed there are as many as 13 patches where fencing is required to be constructed beyond 150 yards of the international border.

On the increasing insurances of cattle smuggling, he said that BSF seizes cattle in border areas and so far they have seized more than 10000 cattle.

The IG while admitting that smugglers use unfenced areas and gaps along the border to smuggle cattle.

He agreed that connectivity is a major problem in the border areas but BSF has made alternative arrangements for its troops to communicate along the border.