BSF considers snakes, crocodiles to curb infiltration along Bangladesh border

New Delhi: BSF sources have indicated that an internal discussion has taken place on the possibility of using snakes and crocodiles as a natural deterrent to prevent infiltration in riverine and marshy border areas along the India-Bangladesh border, though no official order has been issued so far. According to the sources, the idea is being considered for vulnerable stretches of the India-Bangladesh border where conventional fencing is not feasible. The 4,096-km-long border includes nearly 175 km of riverine and swampy terrain, making it difficult to curb infiltration, smuggling, and other illegal activities through physical barriers alone. As part of a deterrence-first approach to border security, officials have reportedly been asked to identify river stretches that may be suitable for such a plan. However, the proposal remains at the discussion stage, and it is still uncertain whether it will be implemented in the future. At the same time, the BSF is strengthening border surveillance with advanced technology, including drones, sensors, cameras, and other modern security measures. The move comes amid continued concerns over smuggling and infiltration along the eastern border. In January this year, in a major crackdown, BSF troops of the 32nd Battalion under the South Bengal Frontier intercepted a gold smuggler along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Nadia district and seized gold biscuits worth around Rs 1 crore. Acting on specific intelligence, troops had cordoned off a sensitive stretch before spotting a suspicious individual near the international boundary fence. The suspect attempted to flee but was chased down and detained. In another incident in November 2025, a Bangladeshi smuggler was unintentionally shot dead in Nadia district when BSF personnel moved to foil a cross-border smuggling attempt. Sources said the smugglers allegedly attacked the troops with local weapons, leading to an accidental firing in which one smuggler was killed. The force later recovered several weapons, 96 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup, and two bottles of foreign liquor. The story was written by Jitendra Bahadur Singh.