Wednesday, December 9, 2009

High-tech surveillance in place along Bangladesh border, claims minister

NEW DELHI, Dec 9: The Centre said a number of stretches of Indo-Bangladesh border are difficult terrains, low-lying areas, hilly and forest areas, and as such it is a challenging and difficult task for the BSF to patrol the border.

Replying to a question raised by Assam BJP MP Ramen Deka on Tuesday, Union Minister of State for Home M Ramachandran said: “About 1,116 km of the 4096.7-km-long international border with Bangladesh is riverine border. There are 51 enclaves of Bangladesh (7,110 acres) in the Indian territory. The border is also heavily populated.”

Deka was not happy with the reply of the minister. He wanted to know as to when the border fencing is likely to be completed and how many areas are still unfenced. The minister, however, was silent on the matter.

The Union Home Minister informed the House that single-row barbed wire fences along the Bangladesh border were modified with a new composite design fencing that has raised platforms and concertina coil. Technical modifications to suit the local conditions were also adopted in specific cases, the minister added.

According to the minister, the Centre has decided to deploy high-tech electronic surveillance system along the international border. High-tech surveillance equipment such as hand-held thermal imagers, battle field surveillance radars, long-rang reconnaissance and observation system (LORROS), spotter scopes and night vision devices have been deployed along the international borders of the country to act as force multiplier for effective border management. THE SENTINEL

No comments: