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
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
