Agartala, Jul 31, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, July 31: Border Security Force (BSF) in Tripura adopted a multi-pronged strategy to prevent trans-border crime and illegal infiltration.

The troops on the border have been augmented, especially in areas which are vulnerable to smuggling and infiltration. Surveillance has been stepped up and state of the art hand Held Thermal Imagers and Drones have been inducted.

Patel Piyush Purushottam Das, IG BSF Tripura, has directed  all field commanders to step up coordination with all agencies including Tripura Police, TSR, GRP, RPF, Customs, RI, Forest departments and other sister agencies for sharing of intelligence and  carrying out joint operation both on border and hinterland against illegal infiltrators and trans border smugglers.

BSF has adopted proactive measures to curb trans-border crime. Joint operations with sister agencies are being carried out in hinterland and mobile check posts are being established with Tripura Police and TSR at transit points- railway stations, bus stands and inter-state check posts.

Due to the on-going situation in Bangladesh, BSF is constantly monitoring the developments and maintaining close coordination with BGB at various levels. During July 2024, in addition to the IG BSF- Region Commander level conference, 4 Commandant level flag meetings and 150 Company Commander /BOP level meetings with BGB were held.

The border areas which are vulnerable are being dominated by BSF and BGB jointly by carrying out special coordinated patrols and more than 100 such patrols have been carried out in the month of July 2024. This has reinforced the mutual trust between the two border guarding forces and has greatly enhanced the synergy.

This was visible in the recent safe return of students from Bangladesh through the Tripura Border. BSF was instrumental in facilitating the safe return of more than 900 students till date.

Maintaining Non-Lethal Strategy, the BSF troops foiled multiple attempts of trans-border smuggling/ infiltration. In the month of July 2024, 56 cases of firing from non-lethal weapons took place in the border area in which more than 70 rounds were fired to prevent the trans-border criminals and infiltrators. It has been reliably learnt that 6 trans-border criminals have sustained injuries due to the firing.

Seizures worth more than Rs. 4 crore of contraband which  includes 84.6 tons of Sugar, 12692 pieces of Yaba tablets, 360 kg Ganja, 5669 bottles of codeine based syrup,180 cattle were made by BSF troops either independently or in joint operation in the month of July 2024. 

Further 77 illegal migrants (71 BD nationals and 6 Rohingya illegal migrants), 23 Indian nationals involved in trans-border smuggling and 8 touts facilitating illegal migration have been apprehended.

76,000 Ganja plants have also been destroyed in joint operation with the Forest department during this month.

The IG has further stated that BSF is unwavering in its commitment in securing the border in the state of Tripura and to put a stop to all trans-border crimes and infiltration.