Dhaka disrespect for rules miffs BSF

- Status quo should be maintained on adverse possession of land, says IG

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Children perform during the 45th raising day of the BSF in Mawpat on Wednesday. Telegraph picture Shillong, Dec. 1: Dhaka’s disrespect to the mutually agreed maintenance of status quo in places under its adverse possession has annoyed the BSF despite the general quiet on the Indo-Bangladesh border these days,. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 45th anniversary of the Raising Day of the force, inspector-general of the BSF (Assam and Meghalaya Frontier), R.C. Saxena, said, “While we (BSF) discourage our people to go to places under our adverse possession, the Bangladesh Rifles men are doing just the opposite.” Saxena said various representations have been made to Bangladesh expressing India’s concern on the disrespect to the mutually agreed maintenance of status quo in places under adverse possession. “We want to maintain status quo till the Joint Border Working Group finds an amicable solution to the problem of adverse possession of land by both sides,” he added. However, Saxena also acknowledged the proactive role being played by Dhaka to crack the whip on Northeast militant groups, which are operating from Bangladeshi soil. Moreover, he said a new battalion has been raised today, which would man the riverine areas in the Guwahati sector to thwart infiltration. Earlier, the BSF has been maintaining that infiltration from the riverine areas in the Guwahati sector cannot be fully curbed since fencing in such areas is not feasible. As the Raising Day coincided with World AIDS Day, Saxena said till date, 38 HIV cases have been detected among the personnel of the BSF on the Assam and Meghalaya frontier. On the reasons leading to the prevalence of HIV among the personnel, Saxena said while wrong blood transfusion is one of the factors, indulging in unsafe sex by the personnel is the main factor. To check the spread of the diseases, Saxena said the personnel in the border areas have been strictly directed not to enter the villages alone. “They have been asked to move in groups while on duty, and we have also asked them not to venture into any of the villages at night while they are not on duty,” he added. Saxena said the personnel have been educated about HIV/AIDS while confidential test centres have also been put in place to test the jawans. “The reports are disclosed only to the concerned personnel and not to anyone else,” he said, adding that those who have been infected with the virus are being treated.

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