Policing the Indo‐Bangladesh border

Abstract

The Indo‐Bangladesh border is the longest land border which India has with any of its neighbours. Traditionally, this border has been fairly open and peaceful. However, it has made problems for, and is of great strategic importance to, India's northeastern region. This long and porous border has been used by various terrorist and insurgent groups to wage war against the state and for illegal immigration into India from Bangladesh. In the interest of national security, it is essential that this border be properly safeguarded and its policing revamped. This paper briefly recounts the details of the border clashes in April 2001 in which 16 Indian border guards were killed. It points out some of the lacunae at present and makes a few suggestions towards improving policing of this sensitive border.