Assam to raise four battalions for India-Bangladesh border

In a bid to intensify surveillance and security along the India-Bangladesh Border, the Assam government has decided to raise four new battalions of border police.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this on Tuesday after reviewing the law and order situation with top Home department officials.

The Chief Minister said the four proposed battalions will form the second line of vigil and patrolling along the India-Bangladesh border and will assist the Border Security Force (BSF), which has been guarding the International Border so far.

Sonowal directed the department officials to work towards the immediate steps to raise the four battalions and said that these battalions will be deployed in four districts namely Cachar, South Salmara-Mancachar, Karimganj and Dhubri, which has international border with Bangladesh.

 

Sonowal said the Commandants of these four battalions will also be acting as Superintendents of Border Police in their concerned districts.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the activities of 120 watch towers located along the India-Bangladesh border and asked the officials to take steps to modernise these towers for better surveillance.

Sonowal also asked the Home Department to issue directive to the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to put in efforts to prevent any fresh bid of illegal encroachment in the char (river sandbars) areas.

He said that the concerned district SP or the DC must undertake regular inspection tours to the char areas.

--IANS

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