Ahead of the 75th Independence Day celebrations, the BSF troops have been put on high alert to step up vigil along the India-Bangladesh border as the border guarding force has launched “Operation Alert”, officials said.
Shailendra Kumar Sinha, deputy inspector general (DIG), Regional Headquarters, BSF at Cooch Behar in West Bengal said, “In view of the Independence Day celebrations, the Border Security Force has launched ‘Operation Alert’ along the international border with Bangladesh in the state.”
“Accordingly, the officers and jawans from all branches of BSF participate in the exercise which will continue till August 16,” Sinha added.
‘Operation Alert’ has been launched in view of the threat from Bangladesh-based Islamist terrorist groups and radicalized groups as well as other Indian insurgent groups in the country which have recently started operating in the states, which are adjacent to Bangladesh, the BSF official said.
He said 04 Corps under Regional Headquarters Cooch Behar is stationed along the India-Bangladesh border.
The boundary of this frontier is 171 km, of which most of the places are without barbed wire.
“Strict vigil is being maintained in the entire area along the India-Bangladesh border and orders have been issued to deal strictly with any untoward activity along the border,” BSF said.
BSF officials have also launched a campaign to be aware of the local people residing across the border.
The border guarding force has urged the people living along the international border to inform BSF in case they notice any suspicious person or object immediately in a bid to maintain peace on the border.