India-Bangladesh should patrol vulnerable border jointly, says BSF chief
26 Aug 2008, 1323 Hrs

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New Delhi, Aug 26 (ANI): Border Security Force (BSF) Ashish Kumar Mitra has said that India and Bangladesh should patrol jointly vulnerable border areas.

Mitra yesterday said that the BSF has given a list of sensitive areas to its Bangladeshi counterpart to consider it for joint patrolling.

"This has to be a time bound programme, within the month of September and once that list is exchanged, then we will carry out not only joint patrolling on our areas, but also strengthen our strength in those areas," said Mitra.

Mitra also said that the main reason of firing between the border forces of India and Bangladesh is smuggling of cattle, which needs to be checked.

"I am prepared to go the extra mile to make an effort and even if it helps to some extent. Perhaps it will reduce the firing at the border. It is not only Bangladeshis who are killed, but a large number of Indians have also been killed, all in the process of preventing cattle from going across the border," added Mitra.

According to BSF, a total of 59 people have been killed trying to cross the border between India and Bangladesh illegally in the last six months.

India has imposed a night curfew along its border with Bangladesh and built barbed-wire fences on parts of it to stop movement by smugglers and illegal immigrants.

India says its troops usually target smugglers and illegal migrants from Bangladesh, who sneak across the border, usually at night.

Bangladeshi military officials in July accused Indian troops of killing four civilians after a clash that briefly forced the closure of a crossing point between the two countries. (ANI)