India to set up more para-military forces along int’l border

A senior Indian official has said India would set up 200 more battalions of paramilitary forces to man international border along Nepal-India and Indo-Bangladesh borders.

In response to questions raised by parliamentarians in Rajya Sabha-- the upper house of the Indian parliament on Thursday-- Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the new forces would be provided air cover and specialized armoured vehicles to enhance their capability to keep vigil on the porous borders.

He said the (Indian) government was working to modernize paramilitary forces including Seema Surakshya Bal (SSB) stationed along international borders. The government also would distribute multi-purpose identity cards in the bordering areas in the next two years.

One such pilot project is being introduced in Nepalgunj-Rupadiya border from coming fall season. Only last week, the External Affairs ministry of India gave clearance to the proposal—that was agreed upon during the Nepal-India Home Secretary level meeting late last year.

Meanwhile, a senior Indain security officer told reporters in Indian city of Lucknow Thursday that police had stepped up vigilance in the districts bordering Nepal in the wake of increase in Maoist activities and the recent terror attack in Ayodhya.

Special measures have been launched to identify those who have acquired wealth in the short span of time and maintain a close watch on new madrassas in along the Indo-Nepal border, Inspector General of Police (Gorakhpur range) Jagmohan Yadav said.

"All Superintendents of Police of bordering districts have been asked to submit a report in this regard, the IG said adding that officials had also been asked to probe links of such persons with anti-social elements.

A task force of officials of Income Tax, Customs, Forest Department has been set up to probe those who had acquired wealth very recently, officials said. nepalnews.com by July 29 05

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