Rohingya influx: Security tightened along India-Bangladesh borders

Agartala, Oct 17 (IANS) In view of the large scale Rohingya influx into Bangladesh, security along the India-Bangladesh borders has been further tightened to prevent any such infiltration into the northeastern region.

"We have further alerted our troopers posted along the borders with Bangladesh. BSF personnel supervised by the senior officials intensified their patrolling along the borders to prevent any kind of influx, especially of the Rohingyas," BSF's Tripura frontier Inspector General S.R. Ojha told the media here on Tuesday.

He said: "Since 2015, many Rohingyas infiltrated into Tripura and other northeastern states via Bangladesh in search of jobs. But after the recent turmoil in Myanmar's Rakhine state, no Rohingya entered the region."

Director General of Police (DGP) Akhil Kumar Shukla said: "Though Tripura has no border with Myanmar, we have asked the BSF to further strengthen security along the 856-km boundary with Bangladesh."

"Over 18 battalions of para-military troopers were earlier deployed along the India-Bangladesh border with Tripura. We have asked the BSF to also deploy their training battalions in these frontiers," the police chief told the media.

BSF officials looking after security along the Bangladesh border with Tripura and Mizoram said: "Our commanders are taking suitable steps to thwart any attempt by the Rohingyas who are fleeing Myanmar, from entering Indian territories. The BSF is also prepared to deal with any eventuality."

On many occasions in the past, Rohingyas had entered Tripura and a few other northeastern states via Bangladesh illegally in search of jobs.

Subsequently, they were pushed back to Bangladesh following legal and security formalities.

India shares a 4,096-km-long border with Bangladesh in the states of West Bengal (2,216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km).

Large parts of these borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar are riverine, mountainous and unfenced, thereby enabling illegal immigrants, intruders and smugglers to cross over without much of a problem.