Thursday, October 27, 2011

White flags demarcating Bangla border

From The Assam Tribune
R Dutta Choudhury
 LATITILA (Indo-Bangla border), Oct 25 – The Latitila –Dumabari area of the internationalborder in Karimganj district is still totally open and only a few white flags are demarcating the border. The thick jungle in the area, coupled with movement of wild elephants also seriously affects border management in the area.

During a visit to the area, this correspondent witnessed that people of both the countries have cultivated the land right up to the white flags demarcating the international border, making the task of the border guarding force more difficult.
The Border Security Force (BSF) has a Border Outpost at Latitila and a watch post has been set up on top of a hill from where one can get a bird’s eye view of the disputed area. Houses of Bangladesh are also clearly visible from the watch post. However, thick jungles in some parts of the disputed area reduce visibility and it is virtually impossible to see anyone coming through the jungles. The BSF men are guarding the area round the clock, but the terrain is such that it is impossible to ensure total sealing of the border without any fencing.
According to official records, a stretch of 2.35 kilometres of the international boundary in this area, spreading from border pillar number 1397 to 1400/1-RI involving an area ofapproximately 94 acres could not be demarcated during the partition of the countrybecause of mass representations given by the people living in the area. On February 8, 1966, the sector commanders of the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh met to decide a military working boundary.
As per records, a straight line was drawn following the meeting from point “Y” to the middle of the Putni bridge and along the midstream of the Putnicherra Nala, a stream. White flags were placed along the working border and these flags still demarcate the boundary and no pillars have been put in the area because of the failure of thegovernments of India and Bangladesh to settle the matter over the years. Though it is reported that the issue was settled recentiv, no one in the border including the BSF men know what actually happened.
This correspondent visited the BSF camp at Latitila and climbed up the watch post set up on a hill. Though one can get a view of the area from top, it is impossible to keep watch on the entire area because of thick jungles. The BSF men are having a tough job in manning the border because of the terrain, while, herds of wild elephants also make the task, more difficult. The wild elephants often attack people and only recently one civilian was killed. The elephants also damage the fencing wherever it is erected in the area.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=oct2611/at092


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Accused of voyeurism in Meghalaya, BSF denies charge


From About Meghalaya
Guwahati, Oct 26 : Less than three weeks after two Border Security Force (BSF) constables in Meghalaya allegedly sacrificed a minor to be relieved of infertility, troopers of the paramilitary unit in the state have now been accused of voyeurism.

Earlier this week, the people of Nongtyngur village near the
India-Bangladesh border in West Khasi Hills district accused BSF personnel of patrolling unnecessarily in the area to watch local women bathe and pester them. Nongtyngur is 70 km southwest of Meghalaya capital Shillong.

The BSF denied the charge and said some locals involved in cattle smuggling were instigating the villagers. “Strict vigil has helped us curb cattle smuggling in the area for the past six months. Certain people don’t want our men to patrol a cattle smuggling route along a river near the village close to the border,” said BSF spokesperson Ravi Gandhi from Shillong on Tuesday.

Nongtyngur villagers, however, rubbished the BSF claim. “We cannot recall a single instance in the last many years when BSF personnel arrested any smuggler,” said a villager Bubu.
http://aboutmeghalaya.blogspot.com/2011/10/accused-of-voyeurism-in-meghalaya-bsf.html

BSF hunting for bigger firing range in Hazaribag: The BSF, which ha...

From TOI
Oct 24, 2011,
BSF hunting for bigger firing range in Hazaribag: The BSF, which has one of the biggest training centres and schools at Meru near here, is planning to set up a bigger firing range at a place that is not very densely populated.

DIG S K Sood said, "We are surveying the areas where suitable, safe and a bigger firing range can be established. The district administration has suggested several sites for the purpose but it is yet to be finalized."

At present, the BSF has two firing ranges in Sitagarha and Silwar both in Hazaribag Sadar block, but the problem with Sitagarah is that although it is a fairly big range the area is surrounded by villages and sometimes mortars fired during the training go out of the range causing several accidents. Sometimes it was found that villagers, despite prior warnings, collected unexploded mortars and grenades for taking out the brass portion and were killed in explosion.

From BD Press:BGB-BSF flag meeting held

From The News Today, Bangladesh
MEHERPUR, Oct 25: A Battalion Commander level flag meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh(BGB) and Indian Border Security Force(BSF) was held in Meherpur border on Monday, reports UNB.
Lt. Colonel Aynul Jamal, Commanding Officer 32 Mirpur BGB led the six member BGB team while SS Huda, Commandant 85 BSF Battalion, led the five member team of BSF at the flag meeting held at 'No Man's' land near border pillar no.146/7 at frontier village Kazipur under Gangni upazila of the district.
They discussed about illegal trespassing, smuggling, children and women trafficking and others issues with a view to establishing peaceful environment along the frontier villages of both the countries.http://www.newstoday.com.bd/index.php?option=details&news_id=42667&date=2011-10-26

From BD Press: BSF intruders vandalise houses

From The Daily Star, Bangladesh
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Panic grips people of a village in Lalmonirhat
Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

The people of bordering Kisamot Nijjoma village under Sree Rampur union of Patgram upazila are now in a state of panic as Indian border guards vandalised three houses at the village on Monday night.
Sree Rampur BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) camp in-charge Havilder Bashir Ahmed said some 20 to 25 BSF men of Ratanpur and Shalbari camps under Meghliganj Police Station of Cooch Behar district entered the village at around 8:30, vandalised three houses and took away four cows.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

पाकिस्तान से हुई अनूठी घुसपैठ जिसे देख BSF का दिल भी पसीजा

दैनिक भास्कर से
24/10/11



 
जम्मू.जम्मू-कश्मीर की अंतरराष्ट्रीय सीमा पर तैनात सीमा सुरक्षा बल (बीएसएफ) के सतर्क जवानों ने पाकिस्तान से भारतीय सीमा में प्रवेश करने वाली एक लड़की को पकड़ा लेकिन प्रेम में धोखा खाने की उसकी कहानी सुनकर उन्होंने उसे पाकिस्तान के सुरक्षा बलों के सुपुर्द कर दिया।
आधिकारिक सूत्रों ने रविवार को यहां बताया कि पाकिस्तान के सियालकोट के गांव उमरावली की रहने वाली 15 वर्षीय कनीज को कल सीमा पार करने के बाद बीएसएफ के जवानों ने आर एस पुरा इलाके में पकड़ लिया।
जब लड़की से पूछताछ की गई तो पता चला कि उसे एक लड़के से प्यार हुआ लेकिन घर वालों को इस रिश्ते पर ऐतराज था। इस स्थिति में दोनों ने यह तय किया कि वे सरहद पार करके निकाह कर लेंगे ताकि उन्हें किसी विरोध का सामना न करना पड़े।
यह सोच कर दोनों घर से चुपचाप निकल पडे लेकिन सीमा के निकट पहुंचते ही लड़के की हिम्मत जवाब दे गई। मगर कनीज नहीं रुकी और वह सीमा पार कर गई। तभी उसके गांव के ठीक सामने भारतीय सीमा में स्थित गांव निकोवाल में सतर्क बीएसएफ की 193 बटालियन के जवानों की नजर उस पर पड़ गई और उसे पकड़ लिया गया।
लड़की से गहन पूछताछ में उसकी दर्द भरी दास्तां सामने आने पर सख्तजान अधिकारियों का दिल भी पसीज उठा और उन्होंने लड़की को वापस भेजने का फैसला किया। अधिकारियों ने सुचेतगढ़ सेक्टर की आक्ट्राई चौकी पर पाकिस्तान रेजरों से इस सिलसिले में बातचीत की और लड़की उन्हें सौंप दी।

4 drug peddlers held


From IBN Live

PTI | 07:10 PM,Oct 24,2011

New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Four persons, including a woman, were arrested here for their alleged involvement in drug peddling and 50 kg of ganja and 10 kg of opium worth Rs 12.5 lakh seized, police said today. Rajiv (31) and Madhu (45) were apprehended from Rohini on Saturday with 10 kg of opium worth Rs 10 lakh, Ashok Chand, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said. In another case, Mohd Mafid-ul-Islam (25), belonging to Berpata in Assam, and Mohd Ali from 24 Parganas in West Bengal were arrested with 50 kg of ganja valued at Rs 2.5 lakh. They were apprehended near the BSF Camp in Dakshin Puri.

India lost over 300 acres of land to Bangla

From The Assam Tribune
October 25, 2011
R Dutta Choudhury
 MADANPUR (Indo-Bangla border), Oct 24 – Failure of the Government to secure its own land resulted in Bangladesh managing to take more than 300 acres of land in itspossession and now after the signing of the land border protocol, India stands to lose that portion of land to the neighbouring country. Moreover, the Government of India has not been able to protect the interests of its own citizens as Bangladesh has not been allowing Indian nationals to cultivate a huge portion of land in Govindapur village and the Government remains silent over the issue.

This correspondent visited the disputed areas and found that though there is no human habitation in the land under adverse possession of Bangladesh, the people of theneighbouring country has been cultivating the land and even a tea garden of Bangladeshis encroaching upon India’s land.

Army lodges protest over ceasefire violations


From Zee News
October 24, 2011
Jammu: The Army has lodged a strong protest with their Pakistan counterparts over ceasefire violations, when Indian Forward Posts along LoC in Poonch sector were targeted by Light Machine guns (LMG) firing on late Saturday night. 

"We have lodged a protest with Pakistan Army over the ceasefire violations and firing on Indian posts in Poonch through hotline contact," a senior Army officer said here on Monday.



The Pakistani troops had violated India-Pak border ceasefire along LoC and targeted two Indian posts - Kranti-1 and Kranti-2 - with LMG fire in Krishnagati in Poonch sector along LoC on the night of October 22. 


The troops from its post Daku and Yellow Bump had fired on the posts for one and half hours, drawing retaliation from Indian Army. 


This incident of firing took place after Indian troops guarding the borderline detected movement of suspected elements during an infiltration bid. It was the second ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops in about 30 days. 


Earlier on September 20, indiscriminate firing started near the BSF post in Jammu after Pakistan violated ceasefire in Samba sector. At least one BSF sub-inspector was killed and a civilian injured in the firing. 


PTI 
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/army-lodges-protest-over-ceasefire-violations_738285.html

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Pak teenager repatriated by BSF

From The Deccan Herald
Jammu, Oct 23 (PTI)
Hours after her detention on the Indo-Pak border, a Pakistani teenager was repatriated to her country as a goodwill gesture by BSF in R S Pura border belt of Jammu and Kashmir.
16-year-old Kaneez Fatima was apprehended yesterday by BSF troops after she crossed over the International border in Nikowal Border Belt, a BSF officer said here today.
During questioning, Fatima told BSF her parents opposed her marriage to her boyfriend and, therefore, she crossed to this side out of anger.
BSF authorities immediately established contact with their Pakistani counterparts and handed over the girl back to Pakistan Rangers in the evening as a goodwill gesture, the officer said.
"It was a goodwill gesture. The move was appreciated by the villagers of Umravali (Pakistani village) to which the girl belonged to. They had gathered on the other side and were happy," he said.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/199934/pak-teenager-repatriated-bsf.html

No mercy for boy’s killers: BSF IG

From Shillong Times
OCTOBER 22ND, 2011
SHILLONG:
The Border Security Force (BSF) has asserted that there would no mercy for any BSF personnel if they are found involved in the recent killing of seven-year-old boy, Krishna Singh, at Praharinagar BSF outpost in West Garo Hills district earlier this month.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 3rd Inter Frontier BSF Badminton Championship here on Friday, the BSF IG Sudesh Kumar said, “BSF or no BSF a criminal is a criminal and law would take its own course.”
Killing of Krishna Singh who was a son of Kamal Singh, a water carrier of the 121 Battalion of the BSF, was suspected carried out for superstitious human sacrifice by some religious bigots. The boy had disappeared while on a visit to the temple inside the BSF base to offer prayers on the occasion of Durga Puja on the third day of celebrations. His body was recovered next morning after a frantic search. The body bore marks of several stab injuries.
The needle of suspicion was also pointed to one ‘tantrik’ (black magician) from Assam who was friendly with some BSF men and reportedly seen inside the campus during the Durga Puja celebrations. The ‘tantrik’ went untraced after the body of the child had been recovered.
“I have spoken to the DG of police in Assam to take adequate steps to arrest tantrik for a thorough interrogation”, the BSF IG said.
It may be mentioned that three BSF jawans have since been taken into custody in connection with the murder of the child.
The family of the boy resides in official quarters of the 121 Battalion of the BSF inside Praharinagar camp.

http://theshillongtimes.com/2011/10/22/no-mercy-for-boy%E2%80%99s-killers-bsf-ig/

Infiltration from neighboring Bangladesh needs to be stopped


From Shillong Times
23 Oct 2011
SHILLONG: IPS, Inspector General (BSF), Meghalaya Frontier Sudesh Kumar said that infiltration from neighboring Bangladesh needs to be stopped on a war footing basis as it is threatening the demographic set-up in the state on the sidelines of the recently concluded 3rd Force Level Inter Frontier BSF Badminton Championship, 2011 held at the U Tirot Sing Syiem Indoor Stadium, Lower Lachaumiere.

While expressing the pressing need to fence the international border that Meghalaya shares with Bangladesh, Kumar said this is imperative to address the issue of infiltration and cross border terrorism. Meghalaya shares around 445 km of international border with Bangladesh.

Maoists claim responsibility for BSF chopper crash near Ranch Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/maoists-claim-responsibility-for-bsf-chopper-crash/1/157252.html

From India Today
Ranchi, October 23, 2011

Three days after a Dhruv helicopter carrying BSF personnel crashed near Ranchi killing all three on board, Maoists have claimed to have shot it down.
In an SMS sent to the media, undersigned by the head of its South Chotanagpur zonal committee head Kundan Pahan, the Maoists have claimed responsibility for the incident, which occurred in a rebel stronghold.
The message read: "Helicopter ko Maowadi Jan Mukti Chapamaar Sena ke veer jawanon ne maar giraya - Kundan Pahan" (The helicopter was shot down by the brave soldiers of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army).
The PLGA is the armed wing of the CPI (Maoist) and Pahan has been heading it for the last five years.
Jharkhand DGP G. S. Rath, however, felt the SMS was a hoax. "We have initiated an enquiry into the SMS. We will soon know who has sent it," Rath said.
So far the police have ruled out any possibility of Maoist involvement in the crash. A senior police officer though said the SMS had been well-planned.
"The location, language and number all point towards the involvement of the notorious Pahan. Everything looks well-calculated. But about his involvement in the accident there is no proof," the officer said. State police spokesperson R. K. Mallick termed the SMS as rubbish. "They cooked things up to take credit. If they had initiated the matter, they would have claimed it earlier," Mallick said.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/maoists-claim-responsibility-for-bsf-chopper-crash/1/157252.html

BSF inches closer


From The Hindu
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 23, 2011 
Records remained under cover for the third consecutive day as BSF inched closer to the title at the end of the penultimate day's proceedings in the all-India Police aquatic meet at the LNCPE swimming pool here on Saturday.
Mandar Anand Rao Devasi (BSF) won his fifth individual gold as he swam to victory in 1500m freestyle in 17:09.88. Arjun Muralidharan of BSF also took his fifth gold medal of the meet after he won two gold medals on Saturday.