BSF sets up 2 camps along Chattisgarh border

KORAPUT: With Maoists trying to strengthen their base along Odisha-Chhattisgarh border in Nabarangpur district, the BSF recently established two permanent camps to boost its ongoing anti-extremist operations.

"Maoists regularly infiltrate into the state from neighbouring Chhattisgarh due to absence of any permanent security camp on the boundary. Based on specific intelligence inputs we conducted operations, but it was not sufficient. After the camp, regular operation could be carried out and movement of Maoists checked," said SP (Nabarangpur) Brajesh Roy.

He said at least one company of the BSF will be deployed at each of the two camps at Kundai and Raighar.

Once considered a Maoist-free zone, Nabarangpur district is witnessing a spurt in rebel activities along the border.

Members of CPI (Maoist), Chhattisgarh unit, have found safe haven in the forests close to the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border in Nabarangpur's Chandahandi, Raighar, Kundai, Dabugaon and Umerkote blocks that share boundary with Raipur, Bastar and Dhamantari districts of the neighbouring state.

The outlawed organization's Mainpur divisional committee operates in the area and according to intelligence inputs the Red rebels are trying to build a militia group to strike terror in the district.

Police sources said the dense forests of Sitamadi, Hatigaon and Haldi, covering a stretch of around 200 km in length and 40 km in width, lies along the border, providing safe passage to the extremists. While 80% of the forest is in Chhattisgarh, the remaining lie in Nabarangpur.

"In recent times, we have strengthened our presence in the border areas and are determined to contain Maoist activities. The developments are being closely monitored. Operations will be intensified in the days to come," the SP said.

In 2010, Maoists had blown up Kundai police station. Two years later, they gunned down the then Umerkote MLA Jagabandhu Majhi at a weekly market at Gona under Raighar police limits.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Bhubaneswar/BSF-sets-up-2-camps-along-Cgarh-border/articleshow/36333117.cms

BSF to sensitise troopers along India-Bangladesh border

BSF Director General D.K. Pathak has asked the commanders and top officials of the force to sensitise troopers and maintain close relations with people living near the India-Bangladesh border to prevent unwarranted incidents, an official said here Monday.

The Border Security Force (BSF) chief reviewed the security situation along the boundary during a meeting with top officials, sector and battalion commanders here Sunday. Pathak visited Tripura in the wake of recent incidents along the border. BSF trooper Sandip Kumar, 28, and villager Ismail Mia, 70, were killed in a clash between the border guards and villagers along the boundary in Tripura. Eleven people were injured in the incident Friday night at Akhaurah check post on the outskirts of the state capital Agartala.

The Tripura government has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. "The BSF DG has asked the sector and battalion commanders to sensitise the jawans and other field officials to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Keeping close relations between the BSF and people would be the priority for the force," BSF Deputy Inspector General Bhaskar Rawat told IANS, citing the force chief. Muslim organisations held protest rallies here Saturday over the incident.

BSF's Inspector General of Tripura frontier B.N. Sharma has met the leaders of the Muslim organisations and assured them to take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future. BSF Deputy Commandant Jeevan Kumar was lynched by the Bangladeshi smugglers accompanied by the security personnel of that country a few years back while the official was patrolling along the Akhaurah check post. Tripura shares a 856-km border with Bangladesh that is porous because it extends over densely forested mountains. Over 25 to 30 percent of the border is still unfenced. Congested human habitations along both sides of the border often create security-related problems.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/bsf-to-sensitise-troopers-along-india-bangladesh-border-1563125.html?utm_source=ref_article