Central team expected to visit Tripura to examine unfenced border stretches, poor fencing: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Thursday said there were no land acquisition-related hurdles for border fencing in the state and acknowledged the need for early modernisation and sealing of vulnerable stretches along the India-Bangladesh border in the interest of national security.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Saha said the issue of unfenced stretches along the international border had been raised during the 22nd plenary session of the North Eastern Council.
“In our state, no complications related to land acquisition for border fencing exist. I have raised the issue of border fencing and the need to plug unfenced stretches,” he said.
The chief minister said a central team was expected to visit the state to assess the situation on the ground.
He said fencing in several locations had been damaged due to corrosion, while difficult terrain, water bodies and instances of vandalism by miscreants had also affected border infrastructure.
“I have sent all these details with photographs to Delhi. I have been told that the process of modernisation shall be initiated soon,” he said.
Saha said Tripura had adopted a three-layered border security mechanism with the BSF as the first line of defence, Tripura State Rifles (TSR) in the second layer and the state police in the third.
He claimed that the coordinated security arrangement had helped prevent infiltration during the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh.
The chief minister also linked the drug problem in the region to porous international borders, saying narcotics originating from Myanmar pass through Assam and Mizoram before reaching Bangladesh via Tripura.
“Until and unless the international borders are completely sealed, the drug menace shall continue,” he said.
Saha said the state government had decided to establish eight de-addiction centres for drug victims and had secured funds from the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) for setting up a rehabilitation centre.
Referring to law and order, he said police take prompt action whenever incidents of political violence are reported and asserted that party workers had been directed not to indulge in violence.
“You have seen in Bengal, a political party that endorsed political violence was thrown out of power. In Tripura, the party that ruled that state for 35 years, stands nowhere today. In my personal opinion, political parties that rely on political violence can't survive for long,” said Dr Saha.
He also highlighted some of the key achievements of Tripura Police. 
“From 10 to 14 September last year, we organised an exhibition on the new criminal laws. Tripura is the first state to conduct such an exhibition in the country. Tripura has secured third position among the states and union territories in terms of implementation of the new criminal laws which include Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bhartiya Saksha Adhiniyam,” said the Chief Minister.