Cooch Behar, May 12 -- Residents living along the unfenced stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border in Cooch Behar have welcomed the announcement made by newly sworn-in Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding the construction of barbed-wire fencing in border areas. For a long time, allegations had been raised against the previous Trinamool Congress government over its alleged failure to provide land required for fencing work in several sensitive border pockets.
After assuming office, the Chief Minister announced that land needed for border fencing and border roads would be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) within the next 45 days.
The decision has brought relief and optimism among residents of border villages, especially in areas where large stretches of the international border still remain open.
Cooch Behar district shares nearly 550 kilometres of border with Bangladesh. However, around 50 kilometres of the border still remain without barbed-wire fencing. Several riverine stretches and difficult geographical conditions have also delayed fencing work over the years.
According to local residents, the lack of fencing has resulted in repeated incidents of infiltration and smuggling activities in the area.
Villagers have also alleged that Bangladeshi miscreants have entered Indian territory on several occasions, creating fear and insecurity among people living close to the border.
Last year, tension had surfaced in the Kuchlibari area of Mekhliganj subdivision when local farmers attempted to install temporary barbed-wire barriers on their own to protect agricultural land from damage. The move reportedly led to objections from Bangladeshi nationals and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), creating a tense situation along the border.
Welcoming the Chief Minister's announcement, Abdul Malek, a resident of the border area, said: "If proper fencing is installed, smuggling activities will reduce and our security concerns will also decrease. At the same time, our crop fields will remain protected."
Another local resident, Babla Rahman, said: "We have been demanding barbed-wire fencing for a long time. We hope the work will finally begin and be completed quickly."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.