Guwahati, Jan. 20: The 1,643-km stretch of porous border the country shares with Myanmar is emerging as a new terror corridor with India increasing its vigil along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

BSF director-general M.L. Kumawat described the development as a major area of concern in the fight against cross-border terrorism.

“As the border with Myanmar is not fenced, it has become more vulnerable,” Kumawat said, pointing out that in the wake of increased vigil along the Indo-Pakistan border, terrorists had shifted their attention to the unfenced Indo-Bangla border to sneak into the country. He was interacting with the media here this evening.

Kumawat, however, refused to dwell on the threat perception from the Myanmar sector as guarding that border was the responsibility of a sister organisation, the Assam Rifles.

On the Indo-Bangla border, Kumawat said infiltration has come down considerably because of fencing. He said of the 263-km-long border Assam shares with the neighbouring country, 197km has been fenced.

The BSF is planning to deploy additional troops in the Northeast by withdrawing personnel from other parts of the country. Stating that the home ministry last week sanctioned the raising of 29 additional battalions by the BSF, the DG said of the nascent battalions, at least a dozen would be deployed in the region.

On keeping vigil along the riverine border in Dhubri sector, Kumawat said the BSF has set up border outposts in the char areas as there were some technical problems in creating floating border outposts (BOPs).

Kumawat said the vigil along the Indo-Bangla border continued to be at its optimum because of the existence of militant camps along the border. The DG has handed over to the Centre a list of 110 camps of 11 outfits operating out of Bangladesh, a BSF handout said.

“After the installation of the new democratic government under Begum Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, the situation appears to be returning to normal. Reports indicate that though Bangladesh is taking action against Islamic fundamentalist groups, there is, however, no report of any action against Indian insurgent groups taking shelter there,” the BSF handout said.

The BSF has requisitioned two helicopters to be stationed here for effective surveillance. The BSF, quoting intelligence agencies based in West Bengal, said it was a worrying factor that nearly 12.57 Bangladeshi nationals, who had entered India through legal means from 1972 till 2008, have not returned to their country.