Areas along the five Indian states that share a border with Bangladesh are on high alert, in the wake of the attack at a restaurant in Dhaka early on Saturday, a senior police official said. The Border Security Force, police and other security teams were directed to remain vigilant along the 4,096-km-long stretch for any breach into Indian territory, PTI reported.
“BSF is putting a strong vigil over the border lines to avoid any unwanted incident. Our jawans are on high alert, doing duties around the clock in fenced, unfenced and also in riverine areas. We are also using speed boats and country made boats in the riverine borders,” senior BSF official Suresh Kumar said. He added that they were in contact with local police to conduct joint operations, ANI reported.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to discuss security concerns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this month, The Indian Express reported. The Home Affairs Minister had issued a red alert, fearing possible attacks in West Bengal, which has the longest stretch – 2,217-km – of the India-Bangladesh border. “The issues of concerns include infiltration into India, particularly Bengal, following the attack,” a state official said.
In the Bangladesh capital on Saturday, militants took several hostages in a popular restaurant in a diplomatic area. While 13 hostages were rescued, 20 people were killed before security forces gunned down six assailants and captured the seventh alive. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the siege, but the government said local banned outfit Jamaeytul Mujahdeen was behind it.
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