GNLA, ULFA helping each other: BSF IG

SHILLONG, JULY 30: The Assam based militant outfit ULFA is providing the logistic support to GNLA, a Garo militant outfit

. Meghalaya BSF Frontier Inspector General Sudesh Kumar on Tuesday told newsmen that GNLA takes the support of ULFA for arms training and weapons.

In addition, ULFA is using the traditional route with connivance of GNLA to cross the border.

Kumar, however, said that militant outfits having bases in Myanmar, including the ULFA started re-using the routes through Nagaland to come down to Assam.

“Both outfits are closely linked,” Kumar said.

Earlier, some battalions of BSF were engaging in anti insurgency operations in Garo hills but now BSF only has three companies who are engaging in anti insurgency operations.

While admitting that the intelligence of GNLA is quite strong, Kumar said that they are getting inputs from people in villages on daily basis.

The BSF is also deploying its men in civil clothes deep inside the Indian border up to 5-10 kilometers for receiving different inputs.

Addressing his last press conference as Meghalaya Frontier IG, Kumar also informed that he has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to construct elephant corridors along the Indo Bangla border.

Kumar said often the criminals follow the trail of elephants and cross over the border.

Kumar revealed that he has sent a proposal to construct 5 elephant corridors along the border areas after consultations with the forest department.

Elephant attacks are commonly phenomenon in the border areas as often herds of elephants destroy the border fencing besides injuring many BSF sleuths in the remote border outposts of the State.

Kumar said, “We want free movement for elephants and the proposed elephant corridors would reduce the man animal conflict in the areas.

The elephants have a fixed route and the elephants often cross the border in groups making it a risky affair for the BSF sleuths

Kumar said the BSF will put up towers in these areas which will be elephant corridors. The BSF and the residents of the Dalu, a village near the Indo-Bangla border are living under the fear of Nandu, an elephant who often attacks people in the area.

Kumar said as Nandu was shot by Bangladeshis some time back and he now often attacks people in the area.- By Our Reporter