SSB to improve co-ordination with local police ahead of Nepal polls

Lucknow, Sep 7 (UNI) The Sashastra Seema Bal(SSB), deployed on the porous Indo-Nepal border is all set to prune up its intelligence structure and improve co-ordination with the Uttar Pradesh police ahead of the crucial elections in the Himalayan nation slated this November.

Talking to reporters here, SSB IG (UP) Satyavrat said the central force will further strengthen its 111 border outposts (BoPs) along the Nepal border in the coming days. ''This will help us check smuggling, terrorist activities and the entry of unwanted people ahead of elections in Nepal.'' He said while so far the SSB had 46 intelligence units, the number has been reduced to 35 to ensure against overlapping of information.

''The SSB will also work towards ataining greater co-ordination with the state police and other agencies working in the border areas to strengthen border management,'' he added.

In a bid to curb international terrorism and smuggling, the Uttar Pradesh government had yesterday announced to give SSB rights to carry out search and seizure operations within a 15 km belt on the Indo-Nepal border.

The SSB so far had no rights to carry out search and seizure operations. This right so far came under the local police domain.

A decision to this effect was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati here. Sub-inspectors and inspectors of the SSB have been allowed to carry out arrests and search and seizure operations within 15 km of Indo-Nepal border.

The SSB has been given the rights under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

Now the central para military force can carry out search operations inside the Indian territory, besides manning the international border.

UNI