Underwater Sensors to Guard Rivers Near Chicken's Neck to Curb Illegal Infiltration

The tale of push-in & push-back along the international border with Bangladesh could shortly turn into a bitter armed confrontation between the border sentinels of the two neighbouring countries.

The more the Border Security Force (BSF) has been tightening the noose around the open stretches of the international border through deployment of underwater sensors in the riverine areas of the Chicken’s Neck in North Bengal and floating border outposts during the monsoon, the more desperate and daring are becoming the gangs on the other side of the border.

Simmering tension gripped Maldah district in North Bengal on Saturday when nearly 1,000 Bangladeshis armed with weapons assembled near the Chouka post under the jurisdiction of the Shibganj police station in Chapai-Nawabganj district of Bangladesh on Saturday to push in a batch of 20 infiltrators into India through an unfenced stretch.

Locals at the Indian side of the concerned village who got wind of the move, immediately informed the BSF personnel who rushed to the open stretch of the border and took position.

Interestingly, the BSF received further boost when the local residents assembled at the vulnerable spot with sticks and sickles to thwart the infiltration bid. The Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) personnel who got themselves mingled with the perpetrators of the infiltration bid, did little to persuade the gang members to leave the place.

After a tense three-hour drama-cum-impasse, BGB realised the mood of the BSF and the local villagers and managed to disperse the armed Bangladeshis who made an abortive bid to push back the 20 people who had earlier been deported from India to Bangladesh for illegal infiltration.

Around two years ago, the BSF, along with local people, began installing barbed wire fencing along the border at Sukdebpur.

At that time, objections were reportedly raised from the Bangladesh side, including by members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). The issue was later resolved following discussions between the BSF and BGB officers.

Deployment of Underwater Sensors

A heightened patrol along the Indo-Bangladesh border has been mounted by the BSF following reports that anti-national elements might try to sneak into India taking advantage of the ensuing monsoon.

BSF has deployed underwater sensors with powerful antenna along every river bordering the Siliguri Corridor on the India-Bangladesh frontier, with the aim of preventing illegal entry through the vast riverine stretch.

Additionally, it has been reported that if border areas become submerged due to monsoon flooding, floating border outposts will also be established. Thermal imagers and drones are proving to be highly effective tools for precise monitoring.

To monitor rivers such as the Teesta, Atreyi, and Ganga, the BSF is now employing drones, underwater sensors, and thermal imagers. The underwater sensors are specifically being used to detect the movements of anyone attempting to swim across the border and enter India illegally.

It is worth noting that the monsoon season has begun, causing water levels in many rivers to rise significantly. Intelligence sources suggest that along with infiltration, the likelihood of cattle smuggling and drug trafficking may also increase during this period. Consequently, surveillance has been stepped up not only along the rivers but also on the sandbanks and riverine areas.

While monitoring along the land-based border fencing is ongoing, waterway surveillance poses considerably greater challenge during the monsoon. A large stretch of the India-Bangladesh border is characterised by major rivers as well as extensive wetlands. Floods often damage the border fencing, and deploying speedboats across all waterways for surveillance is not always feasible during heavy rains. Criminals, smugglers, and infiltrators are known to exploit the monsoon conditions to their advantage. It is for this reason that advanced surveillance methods are being put in place.

Meanwhile, media reports indicate that the district administration of East Midnapore has also taken action against illegal residents and infiltrators in Nayachar — an island area near the river route of Haldia in South Bengal.