Centre to complete border fencing by 2007

KARIMGANJ, August 19: The Union government has fixed the year 2007 as the deadline to complete construction of fencing and border roads along the entire stretch of the Indo-Bangla border from Mizoram to West Bengal, GK Pillai, joint secretary (Northeast) in the Union home ministry said today. Pillai, who is here in connection with the visit of a joint delegation of the Union government, the state government and the All Assam Students Union (AASU) to the border areas of Karimganj district, said the people of the state have to take up the responsibility of checking illegal infiltration into the state in tandem with the authorities. "Every person in Assam has to take the responsibility to stop infiltration," Pillai said explaining that his visit with the other members of the delegation was to sensitise the people of Assam of the dangers of illegal infiltration. He said that the main objective of the visit was to review the progress of border fencing and road construction, identify the gaps and deficiencies and suggest solutions. Pillai said the Centre had already sanctioned the setting up of a 3,500-man-strong Prevention of Infiltration Force (PIF) to form a second line of defence against infiltration. The state government has failed to utilise the opportunity, Pillai said. The PIF is to be funded by the Centre.