Border vigil beefed up in two districts

Policemen and civic volunteers check vehicles from Assam at Barobisha in Alipurduar district on Monday. Picture by Anirban Choudhury 

TT, Alipurduar/Cooch Behar: Additional forces have been deployed in Bengal's Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts which share border with Assam to thwart law and order problems following the publication of the draft citizen register in the neighbouring state.

Sources said Sanjay Singh, the ADG CID, would visit Alipurduar on Tuesday, along with a team of officers, amid security concerns.

Security was beefed up at Barovisa in Alipurduar district and Baxirhat in Cooch Behar on Monday. Beyond Barovisa is Assam's Kokrajhar district. Baxirhat is on the border with Dhubri and Kokrajhar districts in Assam.

Police personnel and civic volunteers have started checking vehicles which are entering Bengal from Assam and are keeping a close watch on the border. Near Barovisa, the police were deployed on the bank of the Golani river also.

"Earlier, there were instances of people from Assam moving into the neighbouring areas of Bengal because of breach of law and order. We have a similar apprehension this time and hence, security was increased on the Assam boundary," said a source in the administration.

Many people living close to the border in Bengal are worried over their relatives in Assam.

"My in-laws live in Kokrajhar and their names are not in the draft NCR even though they submitted appropriate documents. I have asked them to feel free and come to my house in case they face any problem," said Rupesh Mitra, a trader in Barovisa.

Bengal government officials said they were in touch with their counterparts in the border districts of Assam.

"I have spoken to the DM and SP of Kokrajhar. There is no information so far that people are heading for the Bengal border. Even then, we have stepped up vigil to ensure that there is no breach of law and order. If anybody turns up, we will surely extend necessary help to them," said Nikhil Nirmal, the district magistrate of Alipurduar.

Sources said the Alipurdar district administration had sought details of those whose names did not appear on the NCR list from the Kokrajhar administration. "However, they have not shared the details with us. If such information is shared, we are better prepared to deal with influx of people," said a source.

The administration also organised a coordination meeting between the civil and police officials in Kumargram, the bordering block in Alipurduar so that any emergency situation could be handled.