New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) Admitting that incidents of infiltration on Indo-Pakistan border were continuing, the Government today said strong protests notes have been lodged and the issue was raised at the various bi-annual meetings between the two countries.

Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that 93 Pakistani nationals were apprehended by the Border Security Force last year of which maximum 34 were arrested on Punjab border and 30 while crossing international border near Gujarat. In Jammu region, 18 Pakistani infiltrators were apprehended while eleven in Rajasthan sector.

As many as 30 Bangladeshi nationals were also apprehended during the period including 21 near Rajasthan border, five in Punjab, three in Gujarat and one in Jammu and Kashmir. Five other persons of various nationalities were also apprehended during the period, he said.

In another reply, Mr Reghupathy said appropriate measures like patrolling, nakas and night vision devices are in place to ensure that infiltration does not take place while damaging the fence at the International boder. He also enumerated the number of steps taken for effective border domination and to check infiltration, including round the clock surveillance and day and night patrolling, operation and ambushes.

He said the security fence on Jammu International Border is at a distance of 150 to 500 meter from International border with provisions for gates at appropriate distance to facilitiate the farmers to go ahead of fencing for cultivation of their land.

However, BSF has mooted a proposal to shift a strech of 38.015 km fence erected at distance varying from 400 meters to 1.5 km away from International border to bring it closer to the International border, he informed.

UNI