India plans use of snakes, crocodiles to secure border with Bangladesh
Proposal aims to deter crossings where fencing is difficult, raising safety and human rights concerns
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — India is considering an unusual proposal to release venomous snakes and crocodiles along parts of its river border with Bangladesh in places where building a fence is difficult, according to local media reports.
The plan is reportedly being discussed in internal meetings and memos within the Border Security Force, or BSF, which guards India’s border with Bangladesh. An internal memo dated March 26 reportedly asked field units to assess the idea in areas where physical barriers are hard to build.
According to reports, the measure would apply to riverine and marshy stretches of the frontier, where flooding and difficult terrain have left gaps in the border fence.
India has spent heavily on fencing the 4,096-kilometer border, but about 20 percent remains unfenced. Of the 850-kilometer stretch still open, around 175 kilometers are considered unsuitable for a physical barrier.
The proposal has raised concerns among BSF officers, who reportedly warned about risks to local communities living near the border and the practical difficulties of using reptiles as a security measure.
The border states include West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, where migration from Bangladesh has been a major political issue.
The Indian government has taken a hard line on illegal migration, especially against undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims, while rights groups say minority communities have been caught up in the crackdown.
The BSF has not publicly commented on the reports.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
