Silchar, India (BBN)-Sharp rise in infiltration attempts and smuggling activities has prompted the administration to extend night curfew along the 32-km India-Bangladesh border in Assam's Cachar district for another two months from Friday.
The porous land and riverine border that the district shares with Bangladesh has witnessed unabated influx of militants and miscreants, reports the TNN.
Intelligence agencies have reported that infiltrators often cross the border in the guise of fishermen.
Rebels and infiltrators often use boats to sneak in since it is difficult for the BSF watch-posts to keep vigil on rivers.
The prohibitory orders, imposed under Section 144 CrPC, has barred people from moving along the border within its one-km radius at night for two months between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am.
District magistrate (Cachar) M Viswanathan has also barred fishing on the Surma River in Kathigorah block of the district, under the fresh orders.
The prohibitory orders will also restrict movement of auto-rickshaws, hand carts and other vehicles transporting rice, sugar, kerosene oil and other commodities, within a radius of five-km area, from the international border between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am.
However, employees of the state and the Centre, deployed in the said areas, will remain outside the purview of the prohibitory orders.
It may be mentioned here that the night curfew was already in force along the 92-km India-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district of Barak Valley for the past few years and it was extended periodically given the changed situation along the border.
Fencing along the India-Bangladesh border in Cachar district is yet to be completed.
BBN/SK/AD