Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) is all set to intensify vigil along the Indo-Bhutan border in view of the upcoming election in Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) action.
The BTR election will be held in two phases on December 7 and December 10. In the first phase, elections will be held in Udalguri and Baksa districts, while in the second phase, polls will be conducted in Baksa and Chirang districts.
During the last few days, Sanjeev Sharma, Inspector General of SSB visited several places along the Indo-Bhutan border to assess the ground-level preparedness for an intensified vigil.
Assam shares 267-km long border with Bhutan, and the entire stretch is part of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
Sharma on Sunday visited Udalguri district, and held detailed discussions with the officers of the frontier force guarding the fragile Indo-Bhutan border.
Hrishikesh Sharma, commandant of SSB’s 24th battalion, which is based in Rangia, was accompanied Sanjeev Sharma during the visit to Udalguri.
Intensifying vigil along the Indo-Bhutan border is crucial during the run up to the BTR election because people from both the countries often criss-cross the international border because of a relaxed no-visa regime.
Sharma visited two border out-posts of the SSB at Nalapara and Rajagarh in Udalguri district and also participated in an Area Domination Operation up to zero line border pillar No.254/2 along the Bhutan border.
He enquired about the wellbeing and health condition of the SSB personnel deployed at Indo-Bhutan border and asked them to be careful because of the ongoing pandemic.
Sharma ordered the SSB units to be alert on the suspicious movement of anti-national elements along the border for peaceful conduction of upcoming BTR election.
The SSB official also directed the ground-level officers and jawans to check smuggling of foreign liquor, arms and currency to disrupt the peace of the area or trying to influence the election.