Madarsas growing border areas, pose security risk: SSB Dir Gen

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI) There was continuous increase in the number of 'madarsas' and mosques along the border with Nepal, some of which are sensitive in nature and pose a security risk, according to security forces deployed there.

The 'madarsas' and mosques, number about 1,172 and dotting the areas of the 1,868 km border with Nepal have sprung up in recent years and are increasing in number in recent times, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General Tilak Kak told mediapersons.

''Some of them, somewhere between 50-60, are sensitive from the security point of view,'' he said.

This figure of more than 1,100 is that of 'madarsas' on our side, several others exist on the other side, he said adding that they were vigilant and keeping a strict watch over these mushrooming structures, some of which are often used as shelter points of criminals and undesirable elements, he said.

Agreeing that there had been exponential increase in the 'infiltration' from the Nepalese border of ISI elements, Mr Kak said they do gather information and inputs on such 'incursions' and pass it on to the intelligence agencies.

Speaking before SSB's Raising Day on March 27, the Director General said seven additional battalions were being raised this year, in addition to the 25 battalions already on ground. ''By 2008 we propose to have 45 battalions.'' Mr Kak also informed that 15 batallions of the SSB were being sent for poll duties during the forthcoming Assam and West Bengal Assembly elections.

''Our job is mostly that of protecting the ballot boxes and taking care of the polling booth.'' Set up in 1963 as the Special Service Bureau after the Indo-China conflict, the SSB (renamed Sashastra Seema Bal in December 2003) was earlier conceived only for the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, but today operates in 15 states.

UNI AN VD RK1630

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