No IS threat in India's northeast, says BSF IG

A top BSF official claims that there is no threat from the Islamic State (IS) in India’s north-east region though experts believe India could be the radical group’s next big target.

"This problem has never been felt here. We are safe and secure. There is no presence of IS in the region," said the Inspector General of Border Security Force's (BSF) Tripura frontier MF Farooqui.
 
He was addressing a press conference at BSF’s Tripura Frontier headquarters on the raising day of the force on Tuesday.
 
BSF is the largest border guarding force in the world with 250,000 troopers deployed mainly along India’s more than 6500 km borderlands with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
 
Besides, the force is also engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Naxalite areas as well as in Jammu and Kashmir.
 
"We are working in tandem with the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh). There is no IS problem here," he added.
 
Farooqui is a 1995 batch Indian Police Service officer of the Gujarat cadre.
 
According to him the improved relations and coordination with the BGB and fast exchange of information between the two border guards have a positive impact in better managing the border and thereby reducing smuggling, crime, insurgency and pumping of fake Indian currency notes (FICN).
 
"The total FICN seizure this year was Rs 95.2 million. Besides huge quantities of phensedyl (cough syrup), ganja (marijuana) and ganja plants (cannabis) too were seized.
 
"There is a diminishing trend in smuggling, insurgency and pumping of FICN," he said.
 
Raised in Dec 1, 1965, the BSF is celebrating its golden jubilee this year.
 
Farooqui said that growing from 25 battalions in 1965, the BSF at present has 186 battalions comprising 250,000 troopers and officers posted at 13 frontiers, including three in the north-east.  
He further stated that the number of camps of militants of northeast India in Bangladesh have decreased as the present government of Bangladesh is very supportive.
 
Four north eastern states share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh. The states are Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km).