Agartala, April 27: Even as Border Security Force (BSF) troops intensify their vigil along the 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh, stopping cross-border infiltration remains a herculean task in Tripura.
Amid rising tensions along India’s western frontier post the Pahalgam terror attack and political unrest in Bangladesh, Tripura’s porous stretches continue to serve as illegal gateways for Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya refugees to penetrate deep into the Indian mainland.
Despite near-constant surveillance and a professed commitment toward achieving “zero-infiltration,” human trafficking networks continue to thrive. Regular arrests across Tripura underscore how cross-border movement is occurring almost daily.
Tripura’s unique geography only compounds the issue. Nearly 98% of its 856 km border with Bangladesh, that surrond the state from three sides is fenced, but most of these barbed-wire structures—erected over a decade ago—have succumbed to wear and tear. Prolonged monsoon seasons, lasting nearly seven months a year, combined with dense vegetation and unchecked weed growth, have rendered large portions of the fencing rusted and ineffective.
Moreover, in stark contrast to India’s western frontier, several habitations in Tripura lie dangerously close to the border. In some cases, villages even exist beyond the fencing, separated from Indian territory by a mere 150 yards from the zero-point demarcation pillars.
These close proximities make it easier for smugglers and traffickers to exploit gaps, blending in with civilians during cross-border transits.
The biggest challenge is that the terrain favors the infiltrators with villages practically touching the fence and dense vegetation offering cover, it’s an ongoing battle.
Apart from these geographical challenges, a small segment of the bordering population is believed to be complicit in illegal activities, including human trafficking and smuggling, further complicating BSF’s efforts.
With the volatile situation in neighboring Bangladesh and the looming threat from western borders, the stakes have never been higher. The state and central governments, in coordination with security agencies, must now reassess ground realities and devise strategic responses to plug these vulnerabilities.
The implications of infiltration go beyond demographic changes and fiscal strain on the exchequer; unchecked infiltration poses a direct national security threat.
Even as BSF, other security forces and intelligence units operate in tandem to thwart illegal entry, the persistent arrests of infiltrators only highlight how steep the challenge truly is.
