SSB Siliguri Frontier operational round the clock 24 x 7 to ensure security along the Border Seized contraband items worth more than 43 cores & apprehended 385 persons for alleged smuggling during last seven months

Government of India

Sashastra Seema Bal

Ministry of Home Affairs

Siliguri Frontier Hqrs, Ranidanga

Susruta Nagar, Darjeeling-Dist

West Bengal-734012

PRESS RELEASE

SSB Siliguri Frontier operational round the clock 24 x 7 to ensure security along the Border

Seized contraband items worth more than 43 cores & apprehended 385 persons for alleged smuggling during last seven months

Sashastra Seema Bal, Siliguri Frontier has sounded 'operational alertness' all along its Border Out Posts in the wake of perceived security threat during the forthcoming Independence Day. SSB has intensified Patrolling, Nakas and Area Domination along the borders of Nepal and Bhutan. Specially trained Dog Squads have been kept in readiness for special operations to detect arms & ammunition, narcotics and other contrabands. Passengers crossing the borders are frisked and activities are being monitored through CCTV cameras installed at important transit routes.

Siliguri Frontier having 315 kms long boundary with Nepal and 215 kms with Bhutan is playing a pivotal role in guarding Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border. This is the only Frontier in the country which is guarding two international borders simultaneously i.e. Nepal and Bhutan and also takes care of the strategically located Siliguri corridor along with other Security Forces.

Significantly the relations of India with both of these countries are friendly. But, poverty and un-employment along both side of the borders are the main hindrances for the development. This compels them to resort smuggling or act as couriers for making easy money. However, after deployment of SSB, the smuggling activities have been curbed to a great extent.

As a pacification measure, Sashastra Seema Bal has trained hundreds of border youths in alternative vocations. Steadily, we have deployed Dog Squad and variety of latest gadgets to check smuggling of unauthorized goods along the border. Operationally, SSB has seized various contrabands worth more than Rs.67 crores which include Brown Sugar, Ganja, Fake Indian Currency, Gelatin Sticks, Detonators, Country Made Guns, Crude Bombs, Forest/Wild life products, cattle with a total of 743 apprehensions during the last four years.

During the current year, SSB Siliguri Frontier has so far seized various contraband items valued at more than 43 crores with 385 persons apprehended.

In recent years, the use of women in smuggling has alarmed the Force and as a result women personnel of SSB have been effectively placed at strategic locations and vantage points to check crimes. Human Trafficking along the border is also a great disturbing trend that concerns SSB. The devastating twin-earth-quake in Nepal has triggered fears of migration as well as human trafficking from Nepal. We are working with various NGOs and other security agencies collectively to prevent Human Trafficking in our operational area proactively. We organize workshops on Human Trafficking in collaboration with other security agencies and NGOs and regularly sensitize our people to track and arrest the Human Traffickers. Hundreds of our personnel are maintaining an eagle's eye on the strategic locations to apprehend the Human Traffickers. As a result different units under Siliguri Frontier so far have rescued 74 victims and arrested 38 nos. of Human Traffickers. During the current year SSB has rescued 43 victims which includes 07 women, 15 girls & 21 children and arrested 20 nos. traffickers.

Under the prudent leadership of Shri B D Sharma, IPS, Director General, SSB has also placed Border Interaction Teams at different strategically located International Trade and Transit routes to track Human Traffickers as well as to help visitors who are crossing the borders in a more professional manner.

SSB has so far expended Rs. 3.35 corers in conducting over a hundred odd development programmes, sponsoring 354 border youths for Study Tours for south and north India, 126 youths sponsored for courses in Exotic Flowers Hybrid Vegetables and Nursery management in collaboration with COFAM in North Bengal University, 48 youths trained in Bakery Management and were also given bakery equipments to the tune of seven lakhs in Sikkim, 68 youths sponsored in Poultry and Goat Farming in KVK Kalimpong and Gangtok.

77 Women were given training in Tailoring, 38 computer with accessories and furniture, 43 TV/DTH and several sports equipments distributed free of cost to deserving people and schools & clubs, including SSB adopted schools.

In collaboration with West Bengal Renewable Energy Authority, SSB has provided 33 Solar Lights, 185 Solar Lanterns and one 1.4 KW Photo Voltaic Power Plant in remote border villages. 247 transistors with solar panel and rechargeable battery have been provided to border villagers in Ranidanga Sector. SSB has also donated two complete multi-gyms to the youths of Uttery and Ribdy villages in Sikkim.

    With an aim to uplift the cleft affected person, SSB Siliguri frontier under the guidance of Shri B D Sharma, IPS, DG SSB & supervision of Shri Kuldiep Singh, IPS, IG Siliguri Frontier and in collaboration with 'Smile Train' and international NGO has facilitated reconstructive surgery of 28 Nos. villagers afflicted with cleft lip and cleft palate disease. At present 03 patients are willing for operation of reconstructive surgeries in which 02 patients are from Bhutan.   

SSB Siliguri Frontier has also taken the lead by tying up with the Govt. of India undertaking 'Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation' (ALIMCO) to provide Aids & Appliances to the Physically Challenged persons. We have already identified a total of 823 Physically Challenged persons by organizing different identification camps in association with ALIMCO at remote bordering villages of Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border for providing Aids & Appliances to them. ALIMCO has very recently handed over 352 appliances to the disabled person residing under the area of operation of 10th Bn, 17th Bn, 34th Bn and 53rd Bn of Sector Hqrs SSB Jalpaiguri, distribution of which will be held in the coming days. This is a very minuscule effort for the differently abled persons and their families but it gives them an opportunity to enjoy a new way of life.  

Under Free Health Care, SSB has organized several Health Camps in which 74,062 people have been treated and medicines worth Rs.44 lakhs were distributed. The trained SSB personnel in BOPs respond to exigencies in the villages to provide emergency health support during natural calamities. SSB has also organized 09 Nos. Cancer Detection Camps in collaboration with NGOs in which 1497 persons have been benefited. 10 Nos. Free Dental Awareness Camps were also organized in which 796 villagers have benefited. Besides this SSB Medical Unit also administered Pulse Polio vaccination to 13,560. village children. SSB personnel have donated nearly 980 units of blood to the Hospitals in our Area of Responsibility.

Under Free Veterinary Care, SSB Veterinary Doctors and Para-Veterinary Staff have treated 1,26,793 livestock and distributed medicines worth Rs.40 lakhs.

During the current financial year a proposal of providing sports gear worth Rs1.28 crores to various schools and clubs on INB/IBB have been taken up with the Government of West Bengal under Border Area Development programme. Beside this, various constructional and skill development works worth Rs. 2.19 crores for the border people of the area of our operation under BADP are in the pipeline.

(Sudipta K Sen)

Assistant Publicity Officer

Frontier Hqrs SSB Siliguri