Meghalaya police to assist BSF to prevent infiltration

Shillong, Oct 19 (UNI) The Meghalaya police has decided to redeploy the ''border wing'' of the Home guards at the porous international Indo-Bangla border to assist the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent infiltration.

''We need to strengthen our second line of defence, so we are planning to redeploy the Home guards as our second line of defence for better border policing and assist the BSF with local inputs to check illegal infiltration of Bangladeshis,'' Director General of Police Bijon K Dey Sawain told UNI here.

Meghalaya shares 443 kms of international border through diverse and difficult terrain with Bangladesh.

''There is nothing like human vigilance. The Home Guards, once redeployed, would add to the human vigilance and also orient the BSF with local culture and psychology,'' Mr Sawain said.

At present, there are just three police stations, along the 425 kms long Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya sector. They are stationed at Baghmara, Mahendrganj (both in Garo Hills) and Dawki (Jaintia Hills District).

However, there are police outposts along the border at Maheshkhola, Borsora Ranikor and Rongra which need to be upgraded into full-fledged police stations for effective border policing, former Director General of Police William Richmond Marbaniang, now holding the post of Director General, Civil Defence and Home Guards, said.

''There are also plans to increase anti-infiltration posts with more reinforcement in the police stations along the Indo-Bangla border,'' Mr Sawain added.

The border wing of the Home Guards was dismantled in 1987 and deployed as internal security guards for protection of the VIPs in the state.

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