Bangladesh took action against NE militants: BSF DG

Border Security Force (BSF) Director General A K Mitra on Tuesday said that the army-backed interim government of Bangladesh has taken some action against the rebel groups of the northeast sheltering in Bangladesh.

Salbagan (Agartala), June 5 : Border Security Force (BSF) Director General A K Mitra on Tuesday said that the army-backed interim government of Bangladesh has taken some action against the rebel groups of the northeast sheltering in Bangladesh.

Addressing a press conference at the BSF Tripura Frontier Headquarters in Salbagan, Mitra said, "For the first time they (Bangladesh) did not deny the existence of such (Indian militants) camps."

He, however, said that the present Bangladesh has an "attitudinal difference" and instead of the previous "stonewalling of no existence of Indian militants in Bangladesh territory", the present authorities informed that there may be camps of Indian militants in Bangladesh, but those were without their consent.

Mitra said despite of Bangladesh's confirmation of some action against India militants, senior ULFA leaders like Paresh Barua and Anup Chettia are still in Dhaka.

He said that the biggest hurdle in bringing back both the wanted leaders is the absence of extradition treaty with Bangladesh; and moreover, both are under trial there.

When asked on the sudden change in the strategy of Bangladesh, Mitra said: "Bangladesh is taking action against the Indian militants camped in its territory due to pressure from the Western powers and on realizing the fact that it will not pay to have a big and powerful hostile neighbour like India."

He said the present regime in Bangladesh wants to improve the trade relation with India and replace China from its market.

When asked about the improving relations with Pakistan, Mitra said that things have changed, but not up to the expectation as "large number of powerful fundamentalist outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al-Qaida are still very active" there.

He added that President Pervez Musharraf is not in a situation to have any control on these fundamentalist outfits, which are very powerful in Pakistan.

He, however, said that situation in Kashmir has improved but as long as fundamentalist are there in Pakistan, infiltration will continue.Mitra also confirmed that recently two Awami League leaders of Bangladesh identified as Mirza Azam, a former MP and current general secretary of Awami Juba League (youth wing), and Jehangir Kabir Nanak, chairman, Awami Juba League were detained by the BSF at a West Tripura border village and is presently in police custody.

Mitra was on a three-day visit to the state to review the situation.

India and Bangladesh share a vast stretch of porous border making it difficult for authorities to check infiltration.

Of the total 4,096 kilometres long India-Bangladesh border, Tripura has a share of 857 km and in spite of fencing at several places, smuggling and migration is rampant.

ANI