AGARTALA, June 19 (TIWN): Just after the Central Home Ministry has sounded red alert across the entire North-East India against the backdrop of the Indian army’s operation at Myanmar, the Border Security Forces were recently asked to intensify its vigil along the Indo-Bangla border here in Tripura. A review meeting held recently at the secretariat Chief Minister Manik Sarkar after lifting the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the state has asked the BSF authority to tighten up their vigilance along the bordering areas with an aim to restrict insurgency movements.During the review meeting it has been learnt that a total of 64.64 km still remined unfenced along the Indo-Bangla border here in Tripura. Geographical condition of the eastern parts – from Kanchanpur, Gandacherra to Longtharai Valley is not conducive for undertaking construction works due to terrain, dense forests and lack of proper roads.Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has asked the BSF authority to expedite ongoing work of barbed wire fencing. Inspector General (IG), BSF, Tripura Frontier BN Sharma was asked to prepared a report and sit with the Chief Secretary within next seven days. The BSF authority was asked to deploy additional troopers along the India-Bangladesh borders and further tighten the vigil in the frontiers.

In view of the ambush at Manipur which took the lives of 18 security forces on June 4, Sarkar asked the police personnel to keep a watch to foil plan of the insurgents to lure the youths to join their group and also advised the police to introduce ‘Prayas’ in the bordering areas as well. He also urged the police to take initiatives to give a space to the militants so that they could return back to civilized society.

In a bid to wreak vengeance against them, the Indian army carried out a hot pursuit along the Indo-Myanmar border recently this month.

However, the insurgency is still a major challenge to the BSF and other security forces when it comes to internal security in Tripura though it suffered a lot during the past few years. Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh and some parts of the border still remain unfenced.

The mountainous terrain, dense forests and other hindrances make the border porous and vulnerable, enabling illegal immigrants, militants and intruders cross over without any hurdle.

However, construction agencies like Costal Construction Company Ltd and NPCC have been facing problems in erection of barbed wire fencing in the State’s eastern sector due to hostile conditions.