The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday blamed the West Bengal government for delay in fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.

Singh said that the Home Ministry had notified the Bengal government to acquire land so that fences could be constructed along the border between the two nations.

“Part of the fencing is pending in West Bengal-Bangladesh bordering areas. We had held a meeting with the state government officials and they had assured that they will acquire land on which the fence was to be constructed. There is no delay from our side. If there is a delay, it is on the part of the West Bengal government,” said Singh.

The Home Minister was speaking at Assam’s Dhubri district while inaugurating the smart fence or the BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) on Indo- Bangladesh border.

Bengal shares 2216.70 km its border with Bangladesh. Of the total 2216.70 km, 913.080 km falls within in South Bengal frontier of BSF, of which 374 km is fenced and 538 km is unfenced. The portion of the border that falls under the North Bengal frontier is also unfenced.

Experts claim that land acquisition is a major obstacle in constructing these fences. Despite the Bengal government setting up a committee to acquire land, the delay seems that the 2019 deadline is likely to be missed.

Sources in the BSF say that a fence is the only way to put a check on cattle smuggling across the border. 
“There are some vulnerable spots through which the cattle smuggling takes place. These are mostly near the unfenced border. If we need to keep a check on cattle smuggling besides smuggling of illegal arms and fake Indian currency notes (FICN), fences need to be constructed,” said an official of BSF on anonymity.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday blamed the West Bengal government for delay in fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Singh said that the Home Ministry had notified the Bengal government to acquire land so that fences could be constructed along the border between the two nations.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday blamed the West Bengal government for delay in fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. Singh said that the Home Ministry had notified the Bengal government to acquire land so that fences could be constructed along the border between the two nations. “Part of the fencing is pending in West Bengal-Bangladesh bordering areas. We had held a meeting with the state government officials and they had assured that they will acquire land on which the fence was to be constructed. There is no delay from our side. If there is a delay, it is on the part of the West Bengal government,” said Singh. The Home Minister was speaking at Assam’s Dhubri district while inaugurating the smart fence or the BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception Technique) under Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) on Indo- Bangladesh border. Bengal shares 2216.70 km its border with Bangladesh. Of the total 2216.70 km, 913.080 km falls within in South Bengal frontier of BSF, of which 374 km is fenced and 538 km is unfenced. The portion of the border that falls under the North Bengal frontier is also unfenced. Experts claim that land acquisition is a major obstacle in constructing these fences. Despite the Bengal government setting up a committee to acquire land, the delay seems that the 2019 deadline is likely to be missed. Sources in the BSF say that a fence is the only way to put a check on cattle smuggling across the border. “There are some vulnerable spots through which the cattle smuggling takes place. These are mostly near the unfenced border. If we need to keep a check on cattle smuggling besides smuggling of illegal arms and fake Indian currency notes (FICN), fences need to be constructed,” said an official of BSF on anonymity.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh blames Bengal government for delay in fencing of Indo-Bangla border

The BSF Tuesday handed over the 31 Rohingya Muslims, who were stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for four days, to Tripura Police, even as 30 more community members were apprehended in Assam, officials said.

The 31 Rohingyas, who apparently came from Jammu and Kashmir, had been stuck in no man's land, beyond the barbed wire fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura since January 18.

The situation had led to a blame game between the Border Security Force (BSF) and its counterpart -- Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) -- with the two sides accusing each other of pushing them into their territories.

The decision to hand over the Rohingyas to the Tripura Police was taken after the BSF and the BGB failed to reach a decision during talks on the issue.

The 31 Rohingyas underwent a medical check-up and were later produced before a court in West Tripura district which sent them to 14-day judicial custody, the officials said.

Deputy Inspector General of the BSF Brijesh Kumar said, "We took the matter up with the BGB and requested them to take the Rohingyas back to Bangladesh. They denied. Several rounds of talks with the BGB had failed. So, we handed them over to police."

A battalion commander-level meeting was held at the Zero Line on Sunday, the officials said.

Officials in New Delhi said the BSF informed the Home Ministry about the final result of the talks and gave it the situation report.

After receiving the ministry's nod, the BSF signed the papers and handed over the 31 Rohingyas to the staff of the Amtoli police station in West Tripura district police at 11 am, ending the standoff with their Bangladeshi counterparts.

The officials added that the state police will verify the details of the Rohingyas, and the BSF has been asked to render assistance for the task.

It is suspected that these people had travelled to the border area from Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said, adding that the truth can only be established after an investigation.

Pranab Sengupta, officer-in-charge of the Amtali police station, told PTI that the 31 Rohingyas, including nine women and 16 children, were sent to the Tripura Medical College for a check-up and "were found to be alright".

He said the BSF had been providing them with food, water and other essentials.

While the BGB claimed they had come from India, the BSF said they had not as there was no tell-tale sign of breach of the barbed wire fence on the Indian side.

Meanwhile, 30 Rohingyas travelling on a Guwahati-bound bus were apprehended during regular checking in Assam's Churaibari area on Monday night, Superintendent of Police of North Tripura district Bhanupada Chakraborty told PTI.

Churaibari connects Tripura and Assam via National Highway-8.

"Karimganj district police told us that the Rohingyas boarded the Guwahati-bound bus from Agartala," he said.

When produced before a court, all the 30 Rohingyas were sent to jail by a Karimganj court.

The police sought the custody of some of them but Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Qadir turned down the plea and asked the authorities to produce them again before him Thursday.

In 2017, 12 Rohingyas were apprehended in Tripura and 62 more were detained in different parts of the state the next year.

In October 2017, the Home Ministry had urged all states to take immediate steps to identify and monitor Rohingya refugees.

It had said that the government viewed infiltration of Rohingyas from Rakhine state of Myanmar into the Indian territory as a burden on the country's limited resources and it aggravated security challenges.&nbsp;

The BSF Tuesday handed over the 31 Rohingya Muslims, who were stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for four days, to Tripura Police, even as 30 more community members were apprehended in Assam, officials said.

The BSF Tuesday handed over the 31 Rohingya Muslims, who were stranded on the India-Bangladesh border for four days, to Tripura Police, even as 30 more community members were apprehended in Assam, officials said. The 31 Rohingyas, who apparently came from Jammu and Kashmir, had been stuck in no man's land, beyond the barbed wire fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura since January 18. The situation had led to a blame game between the Border Security Force (BSF) and its counterpart -- Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) -- with the two sides accusing each other of pushing them into their territories. The decision to hand over the Rohingyas to the Tripura Police was taken after the BSF and the BGB failed to reach a decision during talks on the issue. The 31 Rohingyas underwent a medical check-up and were later produced before a court in West Tripura district which sent them to 14-day judicial custody, the officials said. Deputy Inspector General of the BSF Brijesh Kumar said, "We took the matter up with the BGB and requested them to take the Rohingyas back to Bangladesh. They denied. Several rounds of talks with the BGB had failed. So, we handed them over to police." A battalion commander-level meeting was held at the Zero Line on Sunday, the officials said. Officials in New Delhi said the BSF informed the Home Ministry about the final result of the talks and gave it the situation report. After receiving the ministry's nod, the BSF signed the papers and handed over the 31 Rohingyas to the staff of the Amtoli police station in West Tripura district police at 11 am, ending the standoff with their Bangladeshi counterparts. The officials added that the state police will verify the details of the Rohingyas, and the BSF has been asked to render assistance for the task. It is suspected that these people had travelled to the border area from Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said, adding that the truth can only be established after an investigation. Pranab Sengupta, officer-in-charge of the Amtali police station, told PTI that the 31 Rohingyas, including nine women and 16 children, were sent to the Tripura Medical College for a check-up and "were found to be alright". He said the BSF had been providing them with food, water and other essentials. While the BGB claimed they had come from India, the BSF said they had not as there was no tell-tale sign of breach of the barbed wire fence on the Indian side. Meanwhile, 30 Rohingyas travelling on a Guwahati-bound bus were apprehended during regular checking in Assam's Churaibari area on Monday night, Superintendent of Police of North Tripura district Bhanupada Chakraborty told PTI. Churaibari connects Tripura and Assam via National Highway-8. "Karimganj district police told us that the Rohingyas boarded the Guwahati-bound bus from Agartala," he said. When produced before a court, all the 30 Rohingyas were sent to jail by a Karimganj court. The police sought the custody of some of them but Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Qadir turned down the plea and asked the authorities to produce them again before him Thursday. In 2017, 12 Rohingyas were apprehended in Tripura and 62 more were detained in different parts of the state the next year. In October 2017, the Home Ministry had urged all states to take immediate steps to identify and monitor Rohingya refugees. It had said that the government viewed infiltration of Rohingyas from Rakhine state of Myanmar into the Indian territory as a burden on the country's limited resources and it aggravated security challenges.

31 Rohingyas stranded on Indo-Bangla border sent to 14-day judicial custody 

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized gold biscuits worth Rs. 3.77 crore&nbsp;from the Indo-Bangla border.

Acting on a tip-off, DRI personnel intercepted two persons at Majhdia Railway Station near the Indo-Bangladesh border and found them in possession of foreign-origin gold.&nbsp;

As much as 11.66 kgs of gold was recovered from the duo who would smuggle gold from Bangladesh into India. Later, distribute them&nbsp;to different parts of India.

&nbsp;“On January 7, DRI officials laid out an elaborate plan and in a skillfully executed operation boarded the train in disguise of ordinary passengers. They scanned all the passengers on board and zeroed in two persons. The duo was identified as carriers for the smuggled gold biscuits,” added the official.

&nbsp;A search was carried out and 100 biscuits of foreign-origin gold of 116.64 gm each, totally weighing 11.66 kgs valued at Rs. 3.77 crore&nbsp;concealed in specially tailored waist belts was recovered from their possession.

Immediately, the two were arrested and produced before the court. The judicial magistrate remanded them to judicial custody.

With this seizure, in the current financial year, in the region spread over West Bengal and the north-eastern states, the DRI has seized about 395 kgs of gold and gold jewellery valued close to Rs 123 crores. These seized gold are believed to be smuggled from India’s land borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

 
&nbsp;

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized gold biscuits worth Rs. 3.77 crore from the Indo-Bangla border. Acting on a tip-off, DRI personnel intercepted two persons at Majhdia Railway Station near the Indo-Bangladesh border and found them in possession of foreign-origin gold.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized gold biscuits worth Rs. 3.77 crore from the Indo-Bangla border. Acting on a tip-off, DRI personnel intercepted two persons at Majhdia Railway Station near the Indo-Bangladesh border and found them in possession of foreign-origin gold. As much as 11.66 kgs of gold was recovered from the duo who would smuggle gold from Bangladesh into India. Later, distribute them to different parts of India. “On January 7, DRI officials laid out an elaborate plan and in a skillfully executed operation boarded the train in disguise of ordinary passengers. They scanned all the passengers on board and zeroed in two persons. The duo was identified as carriers for the smuggled gold biscuits,” added the official. A search was carried out and 100 biscuits of foreign-origin gold of 116.64 gm each, totally weighing 11.66 kgs valued at Rs. 3.77 crore concealed in specially tailored waist belts was recovered from their possession. Immediately, the two were arrested and produced before the court. The judicial magistrate remanded them to judicial custody. With this seizure, in the current financial year, in the region spread over West Bengal and the north-eastern states, the DRI has seized about 395 kgs of gold and gold jewellery valued close to Rs 123 crores. These seized gold are believed to be smuggled from India’s land borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

DRI seizes gold worth Rs.3.77 crore from Indo-Bangla border