BSF asks Bangladesh to demolish 55 insurgent camps

The Border Security Force has requested its Bangladeshi counterpart, Border Guard Bangladesh to destroy 55 camps of north-east insurgents in the country, official sources said on Thursday.

"Despite a pro-active role of the security forces in Bangladesh to dismantle the camps of insurgents from the region, at least 55 camps still exist there. BSF officials have handed over a list of the camps to them and asked them to demolish the camps," a BSF official told reporters.

The list was handed over at an Inspector General level meeting of border management and coordination held in Sylhet district of the neighbouring country last week.

The inspectors general of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Cachar frontiers of BSF officials had attended the meeting. Bangladesh side was represented at the meeting by Brigadier General of BGB.

"The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and discussed many issues like better border management, tackling smuggling and reducing border crime like cattle lifting and dacoities," the official said.

BSF also requested for early solution of disputes regarding erection of barbed wire fencing in some patches of the international border, the official said.

Taking advantage of unfenced areas, insurgents from Bangladesh enter the Indian territory for subversive activities, he said.

Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam share a 1,880-km border with the neighbouring country.