Retrospection of Tripura
- Part 1 -

By Robert Lanky *

Tripura one of the seven states in the northeastern part of India is virtually circled by Bangladesh in the North, West, South and South East and to the East it has a common boundary with Assam and Mizoram. There is a common belief that the name of the state has been derived from "Tripura Sundari" the reigning diety.

Tripura meaning a land adjoining the water. This former princely state was ruled by Maharajas of Manikya dynasty. After independence of India, Tripura merged with the Indian Union when the Regent Maharani on September 9, 1947 signed an Agreement of Merger. Two and a half decades later Tripura attained statehood on 21 january 1972.

Agrarian economy with the population of approx 32 lakhs people. It has 62 percent literacy rate with Bengali, Kakborak and Manipuri as the major spoken languages. 60% percent of the total area is hilly and forested and literally being farthest and secluded from the mainland, road and train services are still in a nascent stage.

This panoramic tiny state has pleasant weather, except in summers, with pollution free eco- friendly environment largely inhabited by 19 tribes, Bengali and Manipuri etc. Tripura shares 856 km border (International Boundary) with Bangladesh out of which, 641 Kms border is fenced and 215 Kms unfenced (only depicted by 'Border Pillars' on ground as boundary).

All along the border, the 'Border Security Force' (BSF) on Indian side and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on to the other side are deployed for border management and to stop various illegal activities carried out by various miscreants, smugglers and terrorists. On Indian side, it has 204 Border Observation Posts (BOPs) all along the International Border with eight border crossing points at Sabrum, Belonia, Sonamura, Agartala, Khowai, Kamalpur, Kailashahr and Dharamnagar.

The India- Bangladesh border is porous and interestingly it has some huts with the entrance towards India and the backdoor in Bangladesh!! The border at some places criss crosses rivers and innumerable nallahs and surprisingly, but unbelievable though, odd BOP of the BSF jut inside Bangladesh and BOP of their counterpart- BDR are almost in the Indian side. That is why for nearly three decades, this long stretch of the border was the hub for illegal migration, human trafficking, smuggling of narcotics, guns & ammunition and essential supplies.

Despite the border fencing, specially along the unfenced areas, the condition remains the same. All of the above continues unabated. But a new dimension has emerged specially to the security environment with both home grown and foreign militants using this porous border to infiltrate into the North eastern states.

A prominent zigzag line separates India and Bangladesh but the ground realities are much different. To enter India one has to just walk across at any place along the border. Agartala which is the capital of the state is located almost on International Border (Akhoura). Probably it is the only capital of a state in India which is located in close proximity to the border.

To find out the porosity of the border is and how easy it is for any militants to infiltrate, I travelled all along the Tripura frontier from Simantpur (Sonamura) to Akhoura (Border at Agartala) to get a first hand experience despite the BSF's claim of having 24 hours vigil all along the border. Despite the tall claims by the BSF, anyone-why militants? can cross over from Bangladesh to India or vice versa undetected by either the BSF or BDR. I visited the border village of Srimantpur falling under sub divisional office at Sonamura.

This village is located bang on the IB with relatives in either side of the border as it is inhabited by 99 percent muslims; mostly Bangladeshi origin. Srimantpur which is on the bank of Gomati River; which flower from Bangladesh to India is in the unfenced area of the border and is totally porous. Boundary Pillars separates India & Bangladesh. Interestingly, Srimantpur is one of the official crossing points and has a land custom station, immigration office and a BSF post too. But this crossing point which operates from 6 AM to 6 PM is the official corridor for trade and business only. Crossing over either way other than official trade and humans can be done at place of choosing or time.

I had a rare opportunity to interact with villagers of Srimantpur, representatives of Narcotics deptt, Police officials, Land customs deptt and Immigration office at the border village. According to land custom department, 21 items are being imported but mainly confined to crushed stones, cement, plastic sheets of Polymer Ethylene Bricks, Plastic doors & Windows while sanitary wares, ceramic tiles, textile items (Saris & Dupattas from Surat Textiles) etc are being exported. But since last two years export of items from India has dwindled probably due to Bangladesh imposing almost 300 % tax. .

During my stay at Srimantpur I learnt that, almost 60 percent of the total populations of the village are involved in smuggling racket across the border. Women folks are the main courriers of cannabies, drugs along with other daily use items which are cheaper on either side of the border smuggling are being carried out even in broad day light, at the border.

It must be accepted that smuggling is main economic activity along the Indo-Bangladesh border as it is the main livelihood of the villagers on either side of the border, despite the BSF claims to the contrary. While I was interacting with one of the BSF officer a little away from the village 3 young boys in their mid twenties ran across the IB from India to BD with bags in their hand and a sack on their head as if to demonstrate to us the porousness of the border and the reality of the BSF's claim much to consternation and embarrassment to the BSF officer who could do little nothing to stop them.

The BSF at the Border Out Posts are performing a very ardous and challenging task due to proximity of border villages right on the ; International Border: habited mostly by Muslim families with relations on either side, demarcated only by BPs (Border Pillars) and the difficult terrain as existing. The BSF continue to carryout day & night vigil for this stretch of unfenced border.

Each soldier is responsible to guard a stretch of 500-700 meters armed with a gun and a torch besides the patrolling along the border. On dark night and especially during the monsoons and winter the visibility is almost Zero. The stark reality of even carrying out surveillance by observation is otherwise nay by patrolling is nearby impossible. Paradoxically, while the BSF continue to maintain effective border management, sneaking, smuggling and infiltration along the border continues unabated.

It is certainly a herculean and challenging tasks for these men in Khaki uniform (BSF) to ensure effective cross border movement. The situation is likely to be better with the stepped-up fencing work which is expected to be completed by March 2010, according to BSF officials posted at Agartala. 'The BSF is ready to carryout joint operations with state security forces to battle terrorists in the North East if the States so desires' laments a senior BSF official. This indeed speaks volume of the BSF's desire for greater participation in anti-terrorist operations over and above their role and tasks of border management.

"With the deployment of additional BSF troops, increase in the number and relocation of border out posts and cooperation from Bangladesh's Sheikh-Hasina govt it will further tighten the vigil along India's border with Bangladesh in the state of Tripura.

The close cooperation between the BSF and its counterpart-the BDR has sent shock waves to over home grown militants and foreign mercenaries harbouring in Bangladesh. The recent 'capture' or was it 'handed over'? of ULFA chief has given a boost to a better understanding and relationship between the governments of Sheikh-Hasina and Dr Manmohan Singh to fight the menace of 'terrorism' as a natural ally. The Border Security Force, as a sequel, will have to play a greater role in fighting militancy over and above its mundane role & tasks of border management.

To be continued.....

---

* Robert Lanky, freelancer based in North East, contributes to e-pao.net regularly. The writer can be contacted at robertlanky(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on January 15th 2010.

---