KAILASHAHAR / AGARTALA, Jan 23 (TIWN): Union Home Ministry drive against illegal trafficking, smuggling, arm-importing, Islamic militants rampant intrusion via Tripura’s border has now kicked off border fencing works across the state. As Cattle smuggling, illegal infiltration top agenda on Indo-Bangla Home Security-level talks, thus Tripura’s borders have been identified as one of the most sensitive borders in NE India. In an attempt to submit report to the Union Ministry Home Affairs (MHA) on India-Bangladesh border status, including revenue generation from Indo-Bangla trades based on Export Import, the Madhukar Gupta Committee Chief Madhukar Gupta himself has arrived in Tripura on Monday. Already on the first day of his visit he completed a major section of Unakoti Border area and inspected the regular activity, security, fencing and the trade revenue income from Indo-Bangla border via Tripura’s soil.

The central Govt team led by Madhukar Gupta also held a successful meeting with BSF and held a visit at Kailashahar Checkpost at 11 AM. Along with border areas the team also visited the proposed Integrated Development Centre’s areas.

BSF IG D K Sharma, Unakoti DM P R Bhattacharjee, SP Police Ajit Pratap Singh had reported about the status of Unakoti in this regard. In the leading team BSF IDG R P Singh, Tripura Sector IGPC Sarangi, Joint Secretary, under Tripura Govt. Santanu and others.

Addressing the press DM P R Bhattacharjee said that Madhukar Gupta Committee Chief Madhukar Gupta has vividly checked the status of Border, proposed Intergraded Development Centre, Indo-Bangla trade based revenue income from the Checkpost and the fencing status.

After Unakoti other the team will also visit to other Districts and in total the report will be sent to the MHA.

The Committee was constituted to suggest recommendations for strengthening border protection and addressing the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing along India-Bangladesh Border.

The DM further said that the team has examined the security mechanisms of all four Northeastern states sharing border with Bangladesh keeping in mind challenges of different climate and topography. It has given separate recommendations for four states as each of them has different topography and problems.

However, the delaying fencing work at Tripura’s Indo-Bangla border has been the matter of concerned for the Central Govt. Many areas as Sonamura Borders are openly promoting Illegal trades between India and Bangladesh. As a result, the Central Govt wanted to seal the whole border with Bangladesh by 2017.

The MHA had constituted this committee in April 2016 to suggest ways to address the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border fencing.

This visit will be effective in taking further decisions about Indo-Bangla border and how to promote more business via Tripura’s Check-posts.