DHAKA: India extended night curfew along the 32-km India-Bangladesh border in Assam`s Cachar district for another two months from Wednesday night in view of continuous infiltration and smuggling attempts.

The porous land and riverine border that the district shares with Bangladesh has been witnessing unabated influx of militants and miscreants. Intelligence agencies reported that infiltrators cross the border in the guise of fishermen. The militants and infiltrators often use boats to sneak into India since it is difficult for the BSF watch-posts to keep vigil on rivers.

The prohibitory orders, imposed under Section 144 CrPC, barred people from moving along the border within its one-km radius at night for two months between 8pm and 5am.

District magistrate (Cachar) Gokul Mohan Hazarika also barred fishing on the Surma river in Katigorah block of the district under the fresh order.

The prohibitory orders will also bar movement of rickshaws, handcarts and other vehicles carrying rice, sugar, kerosene and other commodities within a radius of five km from the international border between 8pm and 5am.

However, employees of the state and the Centre engaged in duty in the said areas will remain outside the purview of the prohibitory orders.

It may be mentioned that night curfew has already been in force along the 92-km-long India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district of the Barak Valley for the last few years and it`s extended periodically according to the situation along the border.

Fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in Cachar district is yet to be completed.

Source: TOI
BDST: 0855 HRS, SEP 11, 2013
RS/BSK