Agartala (Tripura) [India], November 25 (HBTV): Newly appointed Inspector General of BSF Tripura Frontier, Aloke Kumar Chakravarty, on Monday outlined several measures to strengthen border security and curb cross-border crime, citing the current unstable situation in Bangladesh.
Speaking in his first interview since assuming office, Chakravarty highlighted Tripura’s strategic importance, noting that the state shares borders with Bangladesh on three sides.
He said that the situation in Bangladesh remained unstable and that it was uncertain whether conditions would stabilise, especially with elections now announced. He added that the democratic framework in Bangladesh had been gradually sidelined over the past year, with the country being governed through an advisory committee, which had affected border security in India.
The Inspector General said that all BSF battalions deployed along the Bangladesh border under the Tripura Frontier had been placed on high alert and were prepared to handle any situation. He added that border outposts were functioning effectively and that fencing was being maintained regularly. He said that the ‘patrol on zero line’ directive from IBBS had been reviewed and that a new nomination system had been implemented to ensure closer monitoring of personnel operating near the international border.
Chakravarty said that existing fencing had deteriorated considerably and that proposals for new fencing with upgraded designs were under consideration by the Government of India. He said that plans were in place to install around 500 km of new fencing using improved technologies while keeping costs low.
He shared comparative data for 2024 and 2025 and said that 1,003 people, including one Nigerian national, were apprehended in 2024. In 2025, 956 individuals had been detained so far, including people from various countries. He added that 724 Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya Muslims were arrested in 2024, while 674 had already been arrested in 2025.
He said that 197 trans-border individuals and 87 touts had been arrested so far in 2025, totalling 278 apprehensions.
Chakravarty said that cattle smuggling, narcotics, and psychotropic substance seizures remained a focus. He said that 1,510 cattle were captured in 2024, and nearly 1,800 cattle were seized. He added that the seizure of Phensedyl had decreased, with around 70,000 bottles seized in 2024 and 46,263 bottles seized so far this year.
He said that seizures of narcotics along the border continued to remain high. He added that 6,19,134 Yaba tablets were confiscated in 2024, while 4,19,505 tablets had been seized in 2025, along with an additional 14,172 tablets recently recovered. Ganja seizures rose from 9,858 kg in 2024 to 11,357 kg in 2025. He said that mature cannabis plants had been destroyed through joint operations, including plants valued at over INR 1 crore. He added that joint operations with police had resumed following the end of the rainy season.
He said that no brown sugar had been found so far this year, compared to 382 grams seized across 302 packets in 2024.
Chakravarty said that gold seizures had declined from 2,673.48 grams in 2024 to 1,394.99 grams in 2025. Refined sugar seizures had dropped from 12,80,604 kg last year to 54,112 kg this year. Goods such as cosmetics, clothing, foreign liquor, and other items worth INR 53.55 crore were seized in 2024, while this year’s seizures amount to INR 51.34 crore.
He stressed community engagement and youth participation. He said that the dry season allowed more intensive operations against ganja cultivation. He added that border-level meetings had reduced after August, although ground-level coordination continued. He said that border infrastructure was being maintained efficiently and that communication with residents was being strengthened. He added that the goal was to improve relations so that local communities acted as the eyes and ears of the force, avoided small-scale smuggling, and participated in mainstream livelihoods.
Chakravarty said that pre-recruitment training conducted by the 18 battalions aimed to encourage more youth from border areas to join the force. He added that the BSF also provided assistance to border residents when required, including ambulances, water tankers, and other support.
(ANI)