BSF identity cards for minors

Statesman News Service

MALDA, June 27: - The Border Security Force would issue identity cards to the toddlers and minor children residing along the Bangladesh border, said Mr C R Das, the Malda district magistrate today. The matter was decided in a recent meeting where the BSF agreed to issue such cards to villagers for the safety and security of the border, he added. “Villagers would have to submit three copy of pass port size photographs to the BSF to get the identity cards,” the DM said. It was also decided that the block development officer, panchayat officials and local MLA in the respective areas would hold meetings every month to discuss the local level problems related to the border and problems of the local villagers, who depend on the BSF to go to their farm land beyond the border fence. The BDO would intimate the problems and resolutions taken to the district magistrate. It may be noted that thousands of farmers and their family members depend on the BSF for permission to cross the fencing through gates operated by the BSF along the border, for cultivation. The villagers also depend on them for other household jobs. The arrangement, however, leads to frequent misunderstanding between the BSF and the villagers in this region. The district magistrate said in case of any major problem the additional district magistrate would attend the monthly meetings to resolve any crisis. The district police would raid the hub of cattle assembled for smuggling in the localities and transit points to check cattle smuggling to Bangladesh, he added. Parts of the border, which are still unfenced due to topographical problems, are under consideration for fencing soon, he informed.

Blame game over cattle smuggling

MALDA, June 26: The Malda superintendent of police, Mr Dilip Kumar Mondal, has expressed reservation against the comments of Border Security Force officials on cattle smuggling to Bangladesh. In a meeting convened by the Malda district magistrate yesterday, senior BSF officials blamed the police partly for rampant cattle smuggling to Bangladesh. Speaking on the issue today the SP said: “The BSF is unnecessarily blaming the police for cattle smuggling from this district.” “Is it possible for the police to intercept a herd of cattle in the market or on way to the border from a market place?” the SP said.