Insurgent groups looming large in B’desh, no organized camps: BSF

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 30, 2021

BSF DIG (PSO), D Haokip on Tuesday said the inputs suggest that the Indian insurgent groups (IIGs) are still looming large in certain areas of Bangladesh particularly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and few areas bordering Meghalaya.

“But the Bangladesh government and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have always denied it,” Haokip told journalists when asked about the IIGs taking shelter in the neighbouring country.

He however said the present ruling government of Bangladesh after taking over charge has put a lot of pressure on the IIGs and their camps have been destroyed.

“Thereafter, to our knowledge, there are no organized camps but individually some of the IIGs are still (there), they are going and coming to and fro from Bangladesh to India and India to Bangladesh,” he said.

According to him, the issue was also taken up in the recently concluded IG level talk.

When asked, the BSF senior official said groups like the National Liberation Front of Tripura are taking shelter in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

He further informed that the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) does not have any camp in Bangladesh. “They (HNLC) also don’t have any camp in Bangladesh but very few of them have relative supporters across the border. So they also go on and off.”

“As far as United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is concerned one group led by Rajkhowa (they are) crossing over to Bangladesh in the area of Garo Hills on and off but they also doesn’t have organized camp but they also have certain relative supporters so they go and they come sometimes. (Though Rajkhowa had already surrendered) but some of the remnants are still there,” he said.

He added other groups like National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), their camps too have been smashed and they have shifted since they don’t have regular camps in Bangladesh due to pressure by the present ruling government.

Haokip also admitted that inspite of the efforts by the BSF, still there is a chance for people not only militants but smugglers can also sneak through the porous border.

When asked, the DIG (PSO) said as far as Meghalaya is concerned, there have been no cases of arms smuggling nor has it ever been seized also.

Stating that Meghalaya border is very safe as far as human trafficking is concerned when compared to other borders in Assam and Bengal, he said the Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned certain anti-human trafficking units where human trafficking is rampant but in Meghalaya they have not sanction even a single unit.

“And in our normal routine the human trafficking cases have not been reported so far,” he added.