Newly appointed Inspector General of BSF Tripura Frontier, Aloke Kumar Chakravarty, on Monday outlined a series of measures to strengthen border security and curb cross-border crime, citing the current unstable situation in Bangladesh. He also highlighted the reduction in refined sugar confiscations.
Speaking in his first interview since assuming office, Chakravarty highlighted Tripura’s strategic importance, sharing borders with Bangladesh on three sides.
“The situation in Bangladesh is unstable at present. Whether things will stabilise is uncertain, especially now that their elections have been announced. For the past year, Bangladesh’s democratic framework has been gradually sidelined, and the country has been governed through an advisory committee. This has had a considerable effect on our own border security,” he said.
Inspector General of BSF further added, “All BSF battalions deployed along the Bangladesh border under the Tripura Frontier have been placed on high alert and are fully prepared to tackle any situation. Our BOPs are functioning effectively, and we continuously maintain the border fencing, keeping it clear and secured at all times. We have reviewed the “patrol on zero line” directive from IBBS, and we have implemented a new nomination system. Those who operate along the international border have also been included in this process so that their safety and the sensitivity of their tasks remain under close monitoring.”
IG BSF highlighted that that “Gold seizures have declined from 2,673.48 grams in 2024 to 1,394.99 grams so far this year. Similarly, refined sugar confiscations have dropped from 12,80,604 kg last year to 54,112 kg in 2025. Goods including cosmetics, clothing, foreign liquor, and other items worth Rs 53.55 crore were seized in 2024, while this year, seizures amount to Rs 51.34 crore, reflecting the impact of enhanced vigilance and surveillance,”
Chakravarty also stressed community engagement and youth participation. “As for ganja, the dry season allows us to intensify operations and destroy more plants. Meetings at the border level have reduced significantly after August, though ground-level coordination continues smoothly. High-level meetings were conducted in 2024. We are maintaining border infrastructure efficiently and strengthening communication with residents along the border. Our goal is to further improve this relationship so local communities act as our eyes and ears, avoiding small-scale smuggling and participating in mainstream livelihoods,” he said.
“Through pre-recruitment training conducted by our 18 battalions, we aim to encourage more border-area youth to join the force, bringing positive change to their communities. We also extend support to border residents whenever necessary, providing ambulances, water tankers, and other assistance,” IG BSF further added.
