India has also set up 23 new stations in the border area, purportedly to curve the smuggling of goods and weapons across its borders with Nepal and Bhutan. The Indian government started deploying its paramilitary in the borders areas after the July 7 bomb blast incident at Bodhagaya in Bihar state.
According to Himalayan Darpan daily newspaper published from Silgudi, India, the Indian government is prepared to establish five more paramilitary stations along the Nepal border and also set up 18 stations along the Bhutan border. [break]
The newspaper says, “A fresh company of border security will be deployed immediately after the construction of the border stations.” As per the records, there are currently more than 21,500 Indian paramilitary deployed along the borders with Nepal and Bhutan. There is a 699 km open border between Bhutan and India.
“What can we do when there are fewer police stations along our side of the border,” said Inspector Gautam Thapa at Pasupatinagar Area Police Office. “We can clearly see how India has already established a strong security presence on the eastern side of the border and we are just helpless,” he added.
The West Bangal state government is beefing up the central reserve police force in Darjeeling to crack down on the recently re-ignited Gorkhaland movement. All the border police stations in the Jaubari, Manebhanjyang, Pasupatinagar, Shreeantu, Salambung and Jirmalo areas are on the Indian side.
Meanwhile, there are no armed police forces stationed in the Darjeeling border area except for the Bajho and Fhikal area.
“We are planning to set up a base at Nayabajar and Mangalbare prior to the upcoming election,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Kiran Basnet. “However, building security force stations in the border area is not on our recently readied list,” he added.
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