SSB TO GUARD INDO-BHUTAN BORDER ALSO

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The Central Government has designated SSB as the Border Guarding Force for the Indo-Bhutan Border for ensuring that anti-national elements are not able to use Bhutanese territory as a base or sanctuary. This border with India stretches over 661 kms. covering areas of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam or Arunachal Pradesh. Recently there have been reports that the anti-national elements of North-East and North-Bengal have established training camps and mis-utilizing the territory of Bhutan. It has come to the notice that the ULFA, BDFB and KLO are using this Border for ingress and egress relating to subversive activities. Cadres of these organizations have found safe heavens in the dense hilly forest of Bhutan for their base camps and for training and logistics support.

The SSB which has been guarding the Indo-Nepal Border has been doing excellent work in checking activities inimical to India. Within a span of less than one year this force has recovered contrabands including fake currency and narcotics worth about 5 crore rupees and arrested 145 smugglers and 4 suspected ISI agents. The Home Ministry is also examining a proposal to raise additional forces of the SSB to meet the increasing need for guarding such borders.