Thaindian News

Kolkata, Sep 27 (IANS) India has urged Bangladesh to dismantle the camps of all northeast insurgent groups operating from within its territory, said a senior Border Security Force (BSF) official Monday. Bangladesh in turn has asked India to crack down on factories near the border illegally manufacturing phensedyl cough syrup that was being used as a popular drug.
Director General of BSF, Raman Srivastava, said: “We have handed over a list of camps of northeast insurgent groups along with their graphic details, GPS locations and aerial photographs to the Director General of Bangladesh Rifles Rafikul Islam and urged him to take proper action to dismantle those.”

“We hope they (BDR) will take proper action as they have assured us,” said Srivastava, who returned Monday after a six-day visit to Bangladesh.

“As all the camps are located within its territory, it is not possible for the BDR to dismantle them on their own, but they can approach the civil administration to take stern action against the insurgent groups. The BDR has assured us that they will take up the matter with the civil administration,” the BSF chief said at a media meet Monday at the Eastern Frontier Headquarters of BSF here.

The BSF has also handed over a list of criminals wanted in India and now reportedly taking shelter in Bangladesh.

Asked whether any action was taken earlier by the BDR to dismantle camps of the insurgent groups, Srivastava said: “Earlier we did not give them detail of locations of such camps, but this time we have given them the list of camps with specific locations and aerial photographs and they have not denied it. Earlier, they would refuse to acknowledge that such camps are operating there.”

“At the same time Bangladesh has urged us to crack down on factories that manufacture the phensedyl cough syrup near the border. The syrup is being smuggled by organised drug peddlers and individuals visiting India. It is used as a popular drug after some ingredients like codeine phosphate and ephedrine are added to it.”

Bangladesh has alleged that the smuggling and consumption of phensedyl syrup has increased in recent months.

“We have asked them to give us details about such factories operating in India so that we can take action with the help of the local administration. They have handed over a list and we will definitely take action if such locations are identified,” said the BSF chief. They have also alleged that the BSF are “killing the innocent and unarmed Bangladeshi civilians”.

“We have made it clear that we have objection to the word ‘killing’, as it suggests that we are intentionally killing people. We fire at criminals who violate the border norms.”

“The deaths have occurred in Indian territory and mostly during night so how can they be innocent,” questioned the BSF chief.

He said that the BSF has so far seized fake Indian currency of face value Rs.8.6 million. In 153 cases reported since 2006, the BSF chief said, “most of the fake Indian currency entered India through the immigration check post and not through the porous border. Two thirds of the fencing along the Bangladesh-Indian border has been completed and the rest of the work is in progress.

“During our six-day visit to Dhaka to hold meetings and interactions with the BDR, we expressed concerns over illegal human trafficking, smuggling of fake Indian currency, cattle, narcotics and illegal infiltration along the porous border,” said the BSF chief. There was also some dispute over adverse possession of land along the border.

“We have proposed a joint border management scheme, including coordinated patrolling along the border by the two sides and annual verification of border pillars.”

“We have suggested holding interactions at lower level and deeper interactions between the sector commandants at regular intervals for better guarding along the border and to stop any kind of smuggling,” said Srivastava.