In a startling revelation, government statistics said that number of smuggling cases of narcotics, arms and cattle have increased along the Indo-Bangla border.
Amid claims made by New Delhi of an improving law and order situation in Northeast in general and Assam in particular, government statistics revealed that smuggling of narcotics, arms and cattle along the India-Bangladesh border have registered a sharp increase.
Documents available with this correspondent said that as many as 29693 number of smuggling cases of narcotics, arms and cattle were reported along the India-Bangladesh border. The smuggling number was 21771 in 2016 and 18132 in 2015.
The security forces have also arrested 633 smugglers in 2017, 751 in 2016 and 656 smugglers were arrested in 2015. The centre has adopted a multipronged approach to tackle cross border smuggling of narcotics, arms and cattle.
“The arrangements include deployment of Border Guarding Force (BGF), construction of border fence, construction of border roads, installation of floodlights, construction of Border Out Posts (BOPs), introduction of Hi-tech surveillance equipments, providing advanced weapons and Specialized
Vehicles to Security Forces, action based on intelligence inputs etc,” said a senior home ministry official.
Meanwhile, security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations in Assam have also received major breakthroughs as far as seizure of Indian currency is concerned.
Statistics said that an amount of Rs 30,36,971 were seized during last five years from the cadres of three different militant organisations including KPL(T), ULFA and NDFB (S).
An amount of Rs 5000 fake Indian currency was also seized from the banned organisations.
As per information available, out of the seized currency, Rs 4, 15,491 has been deposited in Government Treasury. Of the remaining seized currency Rs 35,000 has been given to persons and an authority as per court orders and the rest is in the custody of the court or at Police Stations Malkhana awaiting court orders.