BSF observed Raising Day

 

COOCH BEHAR, Dec. 2: Border Security Force observed its 43rd Raising Day yesterday. The day was celebrated with full fervour and honour by jawans of all battalions of the BSF engaged in Cooch Behar Sector area. Prior to that a blood donation camp was organised on Friday at Gopalpur camp in association with MJN Hospital Blood Bank. DIG-BSF (Cooch Behar Sector) Mr PJ Rao inaugurated the camp. He too donated blood. Total sixty-six persons donated blood at the camp.

 

Mr Rao said the BSF was raised on 1 December in 1965. Since then Raising Day is being celebrated on 1 December every year. Different battalions of BSF organised free medical camps and civic action programmes like Shramdan in rural areas on the occasion of Raising Day since 28 November in Cooch Behar Sector area, the DIG-BSF said.

 

Border Security Force seized cattle, garment and narcotic items worth Rs 9,79,73,388 from different places under Cooch Behar Sector since the beginning of this year. The cattle were brought in from other places to smuggle out to Bangladesh. Not only cattle but also 178 smugglers including 69 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested from different bordering areas in this district. The Bangladeshi nationals had crossed the Indo-Bangladesh border and entered into this side illegally. The BSF jawans were able to seize 1132.7-kilogram ganja and Bangladeshi currency worth Tk 6,88,68,855 during the period, BSF sources in Cooch Behar Sector said.

 

During the past year, BSF jawans seized 5925 cattle worth Rs 4,70,65,800. They also seized various contraband items like foreign made garments and cloths in 2006. The total seizure was worth Rs 6,66,93,779, BSF sources said.

 

BSF sources said that the Cooch Behar Sector is covering 287-kilometre area with five units deployed from Tetulchera border outpost in Mathabhanga to Jhaukuti border outpost in Tufanganj. The presence of Chhitmahals (enclaves) is also an impediment in smooth management of the International border. It is hard to maintain such a vast stretch of area but the jawans are doing their duties ignoring various hardships and limitations, The DIG-BSF claimed. []

 

PHOTO : DIG-BSF Mr PJ Rao and other donors at the blood donation camp at Gopalpur in Cooch Behar.