Steps taken to stop smuggling on India -Bangladesh border

New Delhi, May 16 (ANI): The Central Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach for effective domination and to check illegal activities including infiltration on India -Bangladesh border.

The steps are construction of border fencing and patrolling of roads, floodlighting and constructing additional border out posts, induction of force multipliers and Hi-Tech surveillance.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State of Home M. Ramachandran said: "Twenty four persons have been arrested and Rs. 71.45 crore worth smuggled goods seized on Indo-Bangladesh border in 2011-12. The contraband includes fake Indian currency notes, readymade garments, foodgrains, cattle, cigarettes and medicines, narcotics (including phensedyl syrup)."

"The other steps are effective domination of the border by carrying out round the clock surveillance of the borders by patrolling nakas (border ambushes) and by deploying observation posts all along the International Border," he added.

He said that there are reports of Bangladeshi nationals having entered into India without valid travel documents.

" As entry of such Bangladeshi nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to have a correct estimate of such illegal immigrants living in different states in the country," he added. (ANI)