Tura, July 19: The Garo Students' Union (GSU), southern zone, and the Association for Democracy and Empowerment today apprised BSF officials in Shillong of growing influx from Bangladesh and increasing cross-border crimes which are at an all-time high in the South Garo Hills district.

South Garo Hills shares its border with Bangladesh.

In its memorandum to the inspector-general BSF, Meghalaya frontier, P.K. Dube, the GSU demanded more security to combat influx and cross-border crimes.

The students' union said increasing violent activities allegedly by Bangladeshis have created a chaotic situation along the border villages of South Garo Hills as people there have to live in constant fear.

"The Bangladeshis can easily enter Indian soil and commit nefarious activities. The issue of influx is serious and urgent, and needs to be dealt with immediately by the BSF," said the GSU release issued here today.

The students' union expressed its concern over the prevailing situation and stated that BSF personnel deployed along the border have failed to prevent smugglings, robberies and illegal trades. "The role of BSF personnel is questionable as despite their presence along the border, there is increase in incidents of dacoity, kidnapping and stealing," the release said.

Recently, criminals from Bangladesh allegedly stole 10 cows and as many calves from Deram village in the South Garo Hills.

The release also mentioned a series of abductions allegedly committed by criminals from Bangladesh.

"It is a national issue and the BSF must tighten security at any cost along the international border," the union added.

Yesterday, a GSU delegation met chairman-cum-director of Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) on frequent power cuts and voltage fluctuations in the South Garo Hills.

The union has urged the immediate setting up of an MeECL division at Baghmara to resolve power woes in the region. The division at Williamnagar, which feeds power to South Garo Hills has become unreliable, it added.

The GSU said though Baghmara is an older district than Ampati and Resubelpara, they are getting more government attention and urged the government to focus its attention on South Garo Hills as people of the region have been deprived of development projects.

The students' union pointed out that the existing 33KV line from Nongalbibra to Baghmara is over 30 years old and needs urgent repair. It said the line collapses nearly 20 times in a year and the people of the region have to live in darkness for several days and months.