The Hindu : New Delhi News : West Bengal coastline vigilance stepped up

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Thursday, Nov 26, 2009
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New Delhi

West Bengal coastline vigilance stepped up

Raktima Bose

KOLKATA: With the heightened threat perception of a possible terror attack on the eve of the first anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks, security agencies have stepped up vigilance in West Bengal, especially in the wake of the recent arrest of three Bangladeshi militants by the Kolkata police.

The State is considered vulnerable to subversive activities as it shares a somewhat porous international border with Bangladesh, which is believed to have a considerable presence of Islamic fundamentalist activists. That it has a fairly long coastline adds to security concerns.

Sources in the Border Security Force (BSF) told The Hindu on Wednesday that security has been increased manifold along the border to check infiltration.

Coast Guard on alert

“We are aware of incidents of several militants who allegedly were plotting terror strikes in India being arrested by the Bangladeshi authorities in the recent past. So precautions have been taken with stringent security checks and patrolling along the border,” Vikas Chandra, Deputy Inspector-General of BSF South Bengal, said.

Mr. Chandra, however, stressed on the coordinated effort of the BSF, State police and the intelligence branch for an efficient mechanism to thwart infiltration.

Vigilance has also been heightened along the extended coastline. A Coast Guard source said that after the attacks in Mumbai last year, where the attackers entered the city through a water route, alertness has been enhanced with patrol vessels of the Coast Guard authorities guarding the coastline 24x7.

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