India, Bangladesh security forces begin talks

NEW DELHI: Top officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) will begin five-day talks here today to sort out issues related to border fencing, cross-border insurgency and infiltration between the two countries.

The Indian delegation is led by BSF Director General A K Mitra, while BDR chief Major General Shakil Ahmed will lead his country's team.

Top on the agenda of the meeting are the issues like fake currency notes, weapons and narcotics and smuggling of cattle while the construction of boundary pillars along the Indo-Bangla border, facing resistance from BDR side, is also likely to be discussed in details. The meeting also assumes significance in the backdrop of the inaction of Bangladeshi authorities towards the growing presence of Indian militant camps in its territory.

The 4097-km long Indo-Bangla border passes through West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Last month, BSF handed over a list of 141 camps of militant groups and leaders, including top ULFA leader Paresh Barua operating from Bangladesh, to the BDR and sought their help in dismantling them during a co-ordination meeting of the forces in Shillong.

"The Border Coordination Conference will also take up the issues of crossing-over of BDR personnel across the International Border (IB) and obstruction to developmental works within 150 yards from the IB," the BSF sources said.

According to them, during the conference the two border security forces will also try to consolidate the ongoing confidence building measures and goodwill missions. (