ID :
17643
Mon, 09/01/2008 - 09:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17643
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India, Bangla agree on 'expeditious' handover of criminals
Anisur Rahman
Dhaka, Aug 31 (PTI) India and Bangladesh Sunday agreed to
"expeditiously" hand over criminals taking shelter in each other's territories and take action against militant outfits based on "real time and actionable information".
India has been pushing for an extradition treaty with the
neighbouring nation but a joint statement issued after a
two-day annual meeting of the Home Secretaries of the two
countries did not mention any such arrangement.
The two sides, which discussed a wide range of bilateral
issues including cross-border security and terrorism, agreed
to "continue efforts" to track down criminals who took shelter
in either country and send them back "expeditiously".
"Both sides agreed to take action against militants,
insurgent outfits and their leaders on the basis of real time
and actionable information to be exchanged between the nodal
points," according to the statement issued at a joint press
meet by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and his Bangladesh
counterpart Abdul Karim.
The two countries also decided that the verification
process of "released prisoners of one country held in the
prisons of the other country" should be expedited and
modalities in this regard will be worked out.
Asked to explain the decisions on exchange of prisoners
or "criminals" hiding in each others territory, Gupta said
they intended to "systematise" the process through treaties
but "we should be able to cooperate with each other
(beforehand) even in the absence such arrangements".
Karim agreed with him saying both the countries already
extradited several such elements already in recent months but
added, "we cant return anyone who is still in court custody".
During the recent B.D.R.-B.S.F. meeting, Bangladesh handed
over an updated list of 1,648 Bangladeshi criminals hiding in
India while the Indian side gave a list of 464 Indian
criminals.
According to the joint statement, Dhaka sought India's
cooperation to take "preventive measures against
anti-Bangladesh outfits based in India. The Indian side also
sought Bangladesh's cooperation to trace the presence of
Indian insurgent groups allegedly based in Bangladesh."
Bangladesh's policy is not to allow its territory to be
used by anti-Indian insurgents, Karim said.
"We will inform the Bangladesh authorities about the
terrorist or anti-Bangladesh outfits in India (and) discourage
anti-Bangladesh political activities in line with our
country's policy," Gupta said.
The two Home Secretaries said killing of civilians at the
frontier dominated their talks as they agreed to put in
serious efforts to reduce such incidents.
"This is an issue which needed much-coordinated
patrolling and intensive communication between the two border
forces ... we will be working very seriously on that issue of
casualties in borders," Gupta told the press conference.
He also referred to the decision of the recently-held
talks between the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (B.D.R.) and
Border Security Force (B.S.F.) suggesting joint visit of
vulnerable areas in the frontlines.
"International norms are there to deal with trespassers
...efforts would be made to reduce killings in the frontiers
so that things are done according to those norms," Karim said.
On the issue of construction of fence within 150 yards of
the border, Bangladesh stated the matter will be further
examined including joint visits to the frontier.
During his stay here, Gupta called on army chief General
Moeen U Ahmed and Home Adviser Major General (retd) M A Matin.
PTI
Dhaka, Aug 31 (PTI) India and Bangladesh Sunday agreed to
"expeditiously" hand over criminals taking shelter in each other's territories and take action against militant outfits based on "real time and actionable information".
India has been pushing for an extradition treaty with the
neighbouring nation but a joint statement issued after a
two-day annual meeting of the Home Secretaries of the two
countries did not mention any such arrangement.
The two sides, which discussed a wide range of bilateral
issues including cross-border security and terrorism, agreed
to "continue efforts" to track down criminals who took shelter
in either country and send them back "expeditiously".
"Both sides agreed to take action against militants,
insurgent outfits and their leaders on the basis of real time
and actionable information to be exchanged between the nodal
points," according to the statement issued at a joint press
meet by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and his Bangladesh
counterpart Abdul Karim.
The two countries also decided that the verification
process of "released prisoners of one country held in the
prisons of the other country" should be expedited and
modalities in this regard will be worked out.
Asked to explain the decisions on exchange of prisoners
or "criminals" hiding in each others territory, Gupta said
they intended to "systematise" the process through treaties
but "we should be able to cooperate with each other
(beforehand) even in the absence such arrangements".
Karim agreed with him saying both the countries already
extradited several such elements already in recent months but
added, "we cant return anyone who is still in court custody".
During the recent B.D.R.-B.S.F. meeting, Bangladesh handed
over an updated list of 1,648 Bangladeshi criminals hiding in
India while the Indian side gave a list of 464 Indian
criminals.
According to the joint statement, Dhaka sought India's
cooperation to take "preventive measures against
anti-Bangladesh outfits based in India. The Indian side also
sought Bangladesh's cooperation to trace the presence of
Indian insurgent groups allegedly based in Bangladesh."
Bangladesh's policy is not to allow its territory to be
used by anti-Indian insurgents, Karim said.
"We will inform the Bangladesh authorities about the
terrorist or anti-Bangladesh outfits in India (and) discourage
anti-Bangladesh political activities in line with our
country's policy," Gupta said.
The two Home Secretaries said killing of civilians at the
frontier dominated their talks as they agreed to put in
serious efforts to reduce such incidents.
"This is an issue which needed much-coordinated
patrolling and intensive communication between the two border
forces ... we will be working very seriously on that issue of
casualties in borders," Gupta told the press conference.
He also referred to the decision of the recently-held
talks between the paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (B.D.R.) and
Border Security Force (B.S.F.) suggesting joint visit of
vulnerable areas in the frontlines.
"International norms are there to deal with trespassers
...efforts would be made to reduce killings in the frontiers
so that things are done according to those norms," Karim said.
On the issue of construction of fence within 150 yards of
the border, Bangladesh stated the matter will be further
examined including joint visits to the frontier.
During his stay here, Gupta called on army chief General
Moeen U Ahmed and Home Adviser Major General (retd) M A Matin.
PTI
