Agartala, Nov 24 (IANS) Work on fencing the India-Bangladesh border has been stepped up and is expected to be completed by March 2010, Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Raman Srivastava said here Tuesday.
“The barbed wire fencing would be very effective to check trans-border movement of terrorists, infiltration and border crimes,” Srivastava told reporters here.

According to a central home ministry report, 3,437 km border of the total 4,095 km India-Bangladesh border was to be fenced by March 2010. Work has so far been completed along a 2,800-km stretch and construction on the remaining portion is on.

Srivastava also said the BSF is ready for joint operations with state security forces to battle terrorists in the northeast.

“If the governments of northeastern states want, the BSF is ready to carry out joint anti-insurgency operations to curb militancy in the region,” he said.

Now the paramilitary Assam Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force assist the state forces in most of the terrorist hit northeastern states. The army has also been deployed in a few states including Assam and Manipur.

The BSF chief said: “With the deployment of additional BSF troopers, the number of border outposts would be increased and many outposts would be relocated to further tighten vigil along India’s border with Bangladesh.”

To maintain effective vigilance on the border, the distance between border posts will be cut from the present 4.5 km to 2.8 km, keeping in mind the region’s topography.

“Owners of houses and farmland of Indians which fall outside the fencing would get identity cards from the BSF or the appropriate authority for their trouble-free movement,” Srivastava added.

Five Indian states - West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura - share the 4,095-km border with Bangladesh. These include a 2,979-km land border and 1,116 km of riverine. Among the states, Tripura shares 856 km, Meghalaya 443 km, Mizoram 318 km and Assam 263 km of border with Bangladesh.