| BDR, BSF agree to combat trans-border crimes The chief of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday assured that stern action would be taken for violation of human rights through civilian killing along the border and proposed to launch coordinated patrolling by BSF and BDR to curb trans-border crimes.(UNB, Dhaka) The assurance was made as the three-day talks between the Director Generals of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Border Security Force (BSF) of India concluded here yesterday with a broad-based agreement to combat trans-border crimes and ensure calm along the border. BDR Director General Maj Gen Mainul Islam and BSF Director General Mahendra Lal Kumawat led their respective delegations to the meeting held at the BDR headquarters. The talks focused on a host of issues including border management, halting killing of innocent people and prevention of cross-border crimes like smuggling of drugs and illegal weapons, and human trafficking. Responding to a volley of questions at a press conference on the killing of Bangladeshi civilians by Indian BSF, Mahendra Lal said the Indian forces are trained on the importance of maintaining human rights and serious actions were taken against violators. "You know every force has some black sheep who sometime exceed the limit," he added. According to a statistics by 'Adhikar', a non-government human rights watchdog, some 62 Bangladeshi civilians were killed by the Indian border guards from January to July 11 this year. However, Mahendra Lal said 85 of the killing took place at night time when public movement along the border is prohibited under section 144 and the Indian BSF have reasons to resort to firing causing "unfortunate" deaths. He made a proposal to his Bangladeshi counterpart for starting joint coordinated patrolling along the border which, he said, would help drastically cut down crimes and civilian killings. "We've given the plan to the BDR to ensure tranquility along the border… modality of the coordinated patrolling has not been worked out," the BSF chief said. BDR DG Maj Gen Mainul Islam agreed with the view that most killing occurred during night, saying that steps were taken to sensitize people not to move along the border at night time.He said many border pillars were damaged and as a result people in the frontier areas do not know on which land they are walking through. He said the authorities can give the charge to the BDR to repair the damaged pillars. On the proposed joint coordinated patrolling, Gen Mainul said it does not mean patrolling together. The BDR and BSF will be patrolling on their own territories at a specific time through coordination as all forces want to pursue criminals. In reply to a question, the two chiefs said Indian side has submitted a list of 77 criminals to the Bangladesh side while Bangladesh submitted a list of 1227 criminals believed to be hiding in their respective countries. The Indian list includes Paresh Barua, Rajib alias Arvinda Rajkhoa and Anup Chetia of ULFA. The Bangladesh list includes Mohibul Muttakin and Anisul Mursalin, both identified as JMB militants. Besides, the Bangladesh side gave names and photos of absconding BDR members and sought help from the Indian side to arrest them if they entered India. The BSF chief assured that if any absconding BDR is arrested, he will be handed over to the Bangladesh authority. The BDR chief categorically said Bangladesh will not show any sympathy or give shelter to any terrorist. In his initial remarks, Gen Mainul said: "The talks were successful and we've reached agreement to carry forward our activities through mutual cooperation." http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/07/15/news0939.htm |
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