Agartala, Jan 03, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala Jan 03: Entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the international border with Bangladesh stretching up to 856 km, BSF Tripura Frontier has performed multifarious responsibilities in fighting the insurgency maintaining the border's sanctity and preventing all kinds of trans-border crimes while working under adverse climatic conditions in remote and inhospitable situations in most parts of its operational areas.

In a press statement issued by Frontier Headquarter, BSF Tripura detailed several achievements of the BSF Personnel across the state during the entire year 2022.

The press statement read, “During the year 2022, the BSF troops of Tripura Frontier have maintained extremely high levels of surveillance and alertness. Resultantly, BSF has successfully rescued 1,813 Cattle heads and seized contraband items like Phenesedyl 66,608 Bottles, Cannabis 18,685 Kgs, Yaba tablets 1,14,658 Nos, Gold 86.252 gms, Silver 100 gms, Brown Sugar 1513.38 Gms, Arms/ Ammunition, BD Currency Rs 48,35,853 and miscellaneous items worth ₹ 58,34,75,618/- “.

The statement further informed that the BSF also detained a total number of 59 Rohingya’s, 160 Indian and 150 Bangladeshi nationals in different operations.

Other than that, cannabis saplings approximately 24,93,300 that were being grown illegally on 644.71 acres in the state of Tripura were destroyed or uprooted during joint operations with sister agencies.

Meanwhile, the BSF Tripura frontier also maintained a good synergy with the state government, police department and other security forces while managing its assigned task of safeguarding the borders and maintaining harmony amongst the border population.

The Border Security Force of Tripura also carried out numerous Civic Action programs including free medical camps, skill developmental training, upscaling of Apada Mitra along with various sports and cultutal activities throughout the year.

In order to promote national unity and integrity, BSF also held a number of events throughout the year 2022, under the slogan of "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" including Band display, weapon display and Photo exhibition at various locations in Tripura.

Besides, numerous awareness drives such as 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, 'Har Ghar Tiranga' was organized at Frontier Agartala and all under command Sectors and Units up to BOPs.

Pension Adalat for the redressal of pension-related grievances for Pensioners of BSF and a Rozgar Mela was organized at Frontier Agartala to hand over the Offer of appointment to new recruits.

Initiatives to improve basic infrastructure at the grass root level, so as to extend maximum facilities to Jawans in Tripura Frontier, keeping in view the welfare of Jawans and their family members, Family Welfare Centres are functional in each Unit where various Civil or Vocational courses are being organized for families of BSF personnel.

Mentioning the role of women, the press release stated, “In light of women's emancipation and gender parity, more than 200 Mahila Prahari’s  of BSF Tripura Frontier are successfully safeguarding the nation's borders despite the vagaries of nature”.

Moreover, border coordination meetings between the BSF and BGB of Bangladesh were conducted twice in the year 2022; once in Agartala and the other one in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Various issues of bilateral interest to pave way for enhancing the understanding and cooperation between both the border guarding forces of the two countries were discussed at length.

Special emphasis was given to the focused issues, particularly insurgent activities, various trans-border crimes, pending development works, smuggling of drugs and narcotic items, and coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) during the conference between BSF and BGB.

Apart from that, for fostering friendly relations a cycle rally from Agartala to Kolkata along the International border and many Football and Volleyball friendly matches were organised.

Besides, displaying a humanitarian approach BSF handed over 11 Bangladeshi nationals to Border Guarding Bangladesh, who had inadvertently crossed the international border.

The Border Security Force (BSF), Tripura Frontier, further added, “BSF, Tripura frontier has been devotedly protecting Tripura's international borders and would continue to work to safeguard the state's border with Bangladesh by keeping in frequent contact and coordination with all key stakeholders”.