Security beefed up along Indo-Bangla border

Statesman News Service

MALDA. July 16: All border outposts have been put on high alert in the wake of serial blasts in Mumbai , BSF officials said today. “We have informed all BOPs to tighten security along the Indo-Bangladesh border,” Mr Dharamveer Saraswat , DIG , Malda BSF sector, told The Statesman over phone. “We should keep strict vigil along the border to prevent miscreants from crossing the border here,” Mr Saraswat said. Addressing a civic action programme in a bid to make better co-ordination with the villagers to reduce border crime, the DIG today said : “ Vigilance in the border or for that matter reduction of border crime cannot be done through force. Rather, the cooperation as well as consciousness on the part of the common villagers can isolate the criminals and make the task of the security men lighter.” The 104 battalion BSF, Malda sector , organised a free medical camp at Sirsi Primary school under Habibpur police station today. He said such camps will be of immense help not only for the patients but also for the common villagers who may have some misconception regarding the BSF. “We can hardly ignore the feelings of segregation about us and such interaction with the people will help to remove such feelings,” he expressed . The DIG said , 975 patients have been treated in this camp . There was a lab for blood testing , ECG and other tests. Four eighty two women and 248 children came to attend the free medical camp. As a part of their civic action programme, the BSF had not only arranged the medical camp but also provided teaching tools, clothes, chairs, tables and utensils for mid-day meals for the schools at border areas. Mr Saraswat stressed on the need to arouse awareness among children of the border areas who in course will prevent their elders from indulging in criminal activities.Through the border, cattle along with medicines like cough syrup are smuggled to Bangladesh. Phencydil ~ a cough syrup ~ is used as drugs among the youths in both sides of the border. “The health sub-centre of our village is in a pathetic condition. For the slightest reason we have to traverse at least 18 km to reach Bulbulchandi hospital and the communication too is not good. Such a camp having qualified doctors and modern testing units is of immense help for us,” said Mr Maniram Choudhury.