Sashastra Seema Bal put on operational alert ahead of Barack Obama's India visit

MAHARAJGANJ: The Sashastra Seema Bal has been put on operational alert following intelligence inputs, ahead of Republic Day celebrations and US President Barack Obama's three-day visit to India beginning Sunday.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has stepped up vigil along the Indo-Nepal border that falls under the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh, a senior official said here today, adding, it has been put on operational alert which means patrolling on the border will be continuous.

To prevent the movement of terrorists in the area, the security agencies have been asked to ascertain the identities of people before allowing them to cross over through the border, SSB Commandant B K Bankothi said.

The Uttar Pradesh police had yesterday said that the Intelligence Bureau has shared detailed information regarding threat perception.

In an effort to strengthen the security arrangements at the porous Indo-Nepal border and stop infiltration of anti-national elements, the SSB has installed close circuit cameras on each and every route leading to Nepal, Bankothi said.

"The cameras have been put on SSB post besides on the main roads. The dog squad and one platoon of women wing have also been deployed. Metal detectors have been installed at Sonauli and Tutibari outposts on Indo-Nepal border," Bankothi said.

He said that the dog squad trained in detecting narcotics and arms have been deployed to check smuggling across the border.

In addition to this, orders have been issued to other security agencies such as Indo-Nepal Border Police, Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) and intelligence agencies to be on alert at the border, and patrolling of public spots such as hotels, rail and bus stations has also been intensified to ward off untoward incidents, Bankothi added.

He said that the open, porous border of Nepal was a great challenge for the security forces.