The BSF, posted along the 856-km border with Bangladesh in Tripura, has asked for helicopters to intensify vigil and supply reinforcements to border outposts (BOP) in treacherous terrain and thick jungles.

“We have 21 air-maintained BOPs on the 120-km stretch between Raisyabari and Khangtlang in Tripura bordering the Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT) of Bangladesh and we need a helicopter to supply ration and medicine on a regular basis,” BSF Inspector General S K Dutta said. It had requisitioned a helicopter from the eastern air command (EAC) based in Shillong, but the EAC had expressed its inability during the past six months. At present a helicopter was being sent from Delhi for supply of ration and medicine. Over 620 km of the boundary had already been fenced and work in another 109 km would be completed by March, Dutta said.