SSB gets intel wing to check `friendly' Nepal border

NEW DELHI: The government has approved a full-fledged intelligence wing in Sashastra Seema Bal ( SSB), which guards the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders.
The move, officials said, would give a boost to operational efficiency of SSB as there would be 650 dedicated posts for intelligence gathering. SSB guards these two borders where there are no restrictions on the movement of people on either side.

Officials said that there was a need for SSB's own intelligence wing as the whole border area comprised of densely populated foot hills and plains, thick jungles, under-developed regions and inhospitable terrains and the border population had strong regional, cultural and economic ties.

“There is transborder movement of criminals and anti-national elements which pose a major challenge on the border in the context of the visa-free regime. Most of the stretches of the border are infested with ISI acitivists, Indian insurgent groups, left-wing extremism (LWE), smugglers of armsammunition, narcotics, Indian fake currency and human traffickers. Various other antiIndia forces are also trying to foment trouble on Indian side,“ said SSB PRO, Manoj Keshav.

There was a need for comprehensive border management and intelligence wing will help in it. “This was essential as the operations of SSB ha ve to be intelligence based so as to prevent criminals and smugglers from taking advantage of the friendly borders with Nepal and Bhutan,“ he said. SSB had sent a proposal to MHA for setting up an intel wing to strengthen the efficiency and operational mandate of the force .

Let Bhutan negotiate with China: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) wants India to allow Bhutan to take the lead in negotiating with China on the disputed Doklam plateau, instead of getting involved in the matter. An unsigned editorial in the latest edition of party mouthpiece People's Democracy has quoted Indian foreign secretary S Jaishankar as saying that India and China must not allow differences to become disputes.