Sonali Mishra, IPS, Additional Director General, BSF (Eastern Command) Kolkata, on her three-days visit to BSF Tripura Frontier, visited BSF Campus Fatikchera where she was received by Rajiv Vatsraj, Commandant, 42 Bn and Janardan Prasad, Commandant 150 Bn BSF.
Mishra reviewed the prevailing security scenario on Indo-Bangladesh border and challenges being faced by the BSF troops in curbing smuggling activities and maintaining law and order along the border. After briefing and interaction with officers, she arrived at BOP Mohanpur where Company commanders of the force briefed her about the ‘domination plan’. There she visited border area and halted for night and reviewed the existing ‘night domination plan’.
The ADG also held a Sainik Sammelan at BOP Mohanpur and interacted with the border guards who are performing duties at the Indo-Bangladesh international border to evaluate the real-time challenges in border domination faced by the troops deployed on the ground. Mishra appreciated the tireless efforts and dedication of border guards in safeguarding the borders and efforts made by BSF Tripura Frontier to control trans-border crimes. She also emphasized on the physical fitness and mental health of troops and elaborated the welfare mesures being taken for BSF troops.
After Sainik Sammelan, she visited BOP Bhagalpur and BOP Lankamura and interacted with troops. In the afternoon she had a courtesy meeting with DG Tripura Police Amitabh Ranjan in which prevailing security situation and required initiative to deal with it effectively were discussed. M P Gupta, IG, Frontier BSF Tripura and Rajesh Singh Kanwar, DIG SHQ BSF Gokulnagar accompanied her during the visit.
The BSF ADG’s visit to Tripura came close on the heels of Chief Minister Dr manik Saha’s statement that infiltrators from Bangladesh were using unfenced areas or by cutting barbed wire fencing along the border.
Infiltrators, smugglers and drug peddlers are also taking advantage of trans-border movement and to carry out their illegal trade through these unfenced frontiers, Saha said.
The Chief Minister said that 18 battalions of the BSF have been deployed along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura and the state police, in coordination with the BSF, have been maintaining a strict vigil in the border villages to thwart infiltration, smuggling, cross-border crimes and other illegal activities.