Floating Border Outpost to guard Sunderbans against cattle smugglers

With Border Security Force (BSF) upping the ante against cattle smugglers in the recent past, they are now being forced to look for new modus operandi of the cattle smugglers in the difficult terrain of Sunderban, also home to the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest.

"Sunderbans is a trade route, but this is one of the first time we have seized cattle. It means the cattle smugglers are now looking for new routes. We are manning the Sunderbans effectively from our Floating Border Outposts. Sometimes we chase smugglers on fast boats as well. With this discovery, we have asked the BSF water wing to keep a special check on this new modus operandi," said BSF Deputy Inspector General RPS Jaswal of the South Bengal Frontier.

The move comes after the recent seizure of cattle by BSF on 3rd of September this year, from Border Observation Post ( BOP) Harudanga ( District Murshidabad).

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BSF TO GET NEW FLOATING BORDER OUTPOSTS ( FBOPs) TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES

The BSF has currently has deployed three FBOPs Sagar, Durga and Kamakhya maintaining a strong presence on the international boundary that crisscrosses the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, passing through a channel of rivers Kalindi, Ichhamati, Raimangal and Hariabhanga.

"Besides protecting the Sundarbans and checking infiltration and smuggling, the FBOPs give us a strategic edge. Greatly enhancing manoeuvrability and access, the FBOPs have enabled us to effectively man the riverine border which actually is a tough job. Equipped with latest communication equipment, including a GPS navigator and echo sounder, the vessels also act as guards for the ships passing through the region." said Mridual Sonowal, DIG, BSF, Kolkata.

The indigenous FBOPs are looking to get company of a swanky new ones, at least six of them. They will be armed with modern surveillance equipment and high tech communication systems, a satellite reciever, better navigation system and even perhaps a curved bottom so that it can wade the deep sea like the ships. The Border Security Force (BSF) gets a strategic advantaged over their counter parts the Border Guard Bangladesh ( BGB), especially across the Indo Bangladesh riverine border considered one of the most porous in the world.

JOINT PATROLLING OF RIVERS WITH BSF BGB TO PUT PRESSURE ON CATTLE SMUGGLERS

So far, several rivers linking India and Bangladesh have also been used as cattle corridors. So to keep a check on the riverine areas, BSF BGB do joint patrolling to counter any illegal activity especially cattle smuggling.

"We now share information on real time basis, if there is any terror activity or any incident of cattle smuggling we share immediately contact the BSF. Similarly the Indian counterpart also shares inputs with us, making it part of success strategy," said BGB Lieutenant Colonel Enamul Shumon, Commander of 17 BGB.

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