Shillong, July 22: A total of 47 students have crossed over to India in the last 24 hours through two Integrated Check Posts in Meghalaya – Dawki and Kilapara. 29 students, 28 Indian and one from Nepal, crossed over to India through the Dawki land port and 18 crossed over through the Kilapara ICP in the West Garo Hills district on Monday, as India continued to evacuate students from Bangladesh on the fifth day.
According to Customs officials, these students were provided all the necessary support by different agencies, including the High Commissions of India and Bangladesh and the immigration officials and the BSF at the border.
The BSF Meghalaya frontier has released some figures on its own and stated that 574 students from India, Nepal and Bhutan have crossed over to India through the Dawki Integrated Check Post (ICP) or land port.
Although the BSF said it is doing all it can to facilitate the return of students with valid papers from India and other neighbouring countries, the border guard has also tightened its vigil across the 444 km India-Bangladesh border.
Under its “Operation Alert”, the BSF would be manning the border round the clock to prevent any unauthorized entries, taking advantage of the current situation in Bangladesh and at the border.
Inspector General Harbax Singh Dhillon of BSF Meghalaya frontier emphasized the BSF’s top priority: “ensuring the safe return of Indian students studying in Bangladesh and securing the border simultaneously.”
Dhillon said the BSF has a dual challenge now – to secure the border from unauthorised entries and also to ensure that all those with valid papers, mostly students from India and other countries, face minimum hassle entering into the country.
Read: Assam floods claim 511 wild animals in five years
WATCH:
