BSF caught 3,204 illegal intruders in past year, BGB claims no infiltrations in India

Guwahati, Dec 25 : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday claimed that as many as 3,204 illegal entrants, including criminals, were apprehended in the Indian territory during the past one year while the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) claimed that there was no infiltration into India from their side.
After the 51st DG level talks (DLT) in Guwahati with the BGB, BSF Director General Rakesh Asthana said that since September this year, the BSF has handed over 60 Bangladeshi nationals to its counterpart.
“When the nationalities were established and illegal entrants were found with no criminal background or activity, the BSF handed over those nationals to the BGB. Where the nationalities of the intruders with criminal record could not be established, they were handed over to the state police for further course of action,” the BSF chief told the media.
BGB Director General Maj Gen Md Shafeenul Islam said: “No illegal infiltrations is going on from Bangladesh to India. The GDP growth of Bangladesh is on a rising trend and it has increased close to $2,300 dollars. Therefore, there is no reason to cross the border, be it for the job or any other reason.
“Recently, 25 fishermen from Bangladesh crossed over to Assam and subsequently the validity of their visa expired and the Indian authority sent them back to Bangladesh. The BSF Chief said that smuggling of various narcotics and cattle is a serious concern as various sysndicates are operating on both sides of the borders.
“Talking of narcotics, cough syrup, which is banned in Bangladesh, and methamphetamine tablets (also called Yaba tablets or party tablets containing a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine), which are smuggled from Myanmar, are the main contraband items along the borders,” the BSF DG said.