RAGNA (Indo-Bangla Border), March 4 (TIWN) : Although crimes spiking at border areas everyday, but there is no urgency from Govt.’s side to fence the unfenced border areas along the Indo-Bangla border areas along North Tripura.Locals allege that smugglers influenced construction work of fencing so its progressing at snails pace and many areas are kept open for smugglers and other insurgent elements.Ragna portion of the Border is unfenced so that smugglers can continue business without hurdles.In addition, quality of work is very poor as materials like sand, bricks, rod , cement also chosen as third grade. As per NBCC officials regular excuses, work will take longer to complete.The area belongs to North Tripura’s Ragna Indo-Bangla border area, which is just few km far from Dharmanagar subdivision and half kilometer of fencing is left open to help cross border smugglers.Meanwhile the National Investigation Agency (NIA) constituted Joint Task Force with Bangladesh for prevention of smuggling and circulation of FICNs, has adopted a standard operating procedure (SOP) for enhanced cooperation between the two sides.

It’s to be mentioned here that Tripura’s border areas are suffering from rapid threats of robberies, smuggling and other incidents related to violence.

In North Tripura this Ragna border has become a matter of threat as it’s left just open corridor for smugglers and thieves.

Recently BSF has seized fake Indian currency notes (FICNs) with face value exceeding Rs. six lakh and held a man for allegedly trying to smuggle foreign currency in two different operations on the Bangladesh border in West Bengal.

The SOP, adopted at the third Indo-Bangladesh Joint Task Force meeting at New Delhi on February 22-23, involves sharing of intelligence inputs and investigative leads between established points of contact, maintaining database on all dimensions of foreign currency notes as well as organising joint training and seminars in both the countries.