Security tight at India’s international borders

SILIGURI - Security has been tightened at India’s borders with neighbouring countries and here in northern West Bengal ahead of the 64th Independence Day Sunday.

Inspector General (North Bengal Frontier) of Border Security Force (BSF) Nand Kishore said tight security was in place on the India-Bangladesh border running through the north Bengal districts.

“All soldiers are on high alert. Though so far we have not witnessed any suspicious moments or infiltration attempts,” said Kishore.

Inspector General of Police (North Bengal) Ranveer Kumar said though so far there is no specific intelligence output about any subversive activities on Independence Day, all steps have been taken to provide foolproof security.

The Seema Sashastra Bal (SSB) patrolling the India-Nepal and India-Bhutan borders have been asked to be vigilant.

“All police station in north Bengal have been alerted. We are checking vehicles, as also passengers for unearthing explosives or arms,” he said.

Sniffer dogs have been deployed in hotels and nursing homes, while the bomb disposal squad of the state police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been put on alert, the official said.

Security has also been enhanced at crowded places like shopping malls and markets, he said.

With five guerrilla groups, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), calling a 17-hour general strike Sunday in the northeast to boycott Independence Day celebrations, sleuths are maintaining a close vigil in Siliguri and other north Bengal towns to prevent any untoward incidents.

“Moreover, militants often use Siliguri as a corridor. So we are being very careful,” Kumar said.

All trains to Assam through West Bengal at night have been cancelled from Saturday, while security has been heightened in railway stations, railway bridges and railway tracks to prevent sabotage.