SSB organises confidence-building camp in West Bengal

Siliguri, Feb 8 (ANI): The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) which guards country's border with Nepal, conducted a confidence-building camp here in a bid to increase the interaction with the people and win their confidence.

The four-day camp beginning on Sunday was organised in Thakurgaunge near Nepal border.

"We check crime on the border, smuggling, criminal activities and with that we also want to sensitise people about the force. We want to tell them that we are for their security. We want to tell them that we need to work together to fight criminal activities in the state," said A. K Thakur, deputy commandant, 36 battalion of SSB.

Blood donation camps, display of products made by the self-help groups in the border regions with the help of the paramilitary personnel, AIDS awareness campaign were part of the camp.

The locals commended the initiative.

"This programme organised to bring us close to the forces. They told us that we could cooperate with the forces in checking crime," said Hemant Kumar Ganesh, a local.

India shares a total of 1,850 kilometres of borderline with Nepal, of which over a 1,000 kilometres come under the North Bengal region. (ANI)