Security irksome at Gede, but it has a safe stamp

But considering the threat perceptions, the Wagah-Attari template that is being followed in Gede, is considered the “safest” and the most time-tested one.

Security officials at Gede confided that the Indian immigration and customs officials who were manning the checkpost, now had a first hand training at Wagah-Attari border before being stationed here.

A closer look revealed how authorities on both sides had left no stone unturned to ensure that the resumption of the services were not marked by any security failure.

For instance, on the Indian side, immigration officials had to undergo a rigorous five-day training programme.

“Twenty-five officials who are handling the immigration have been trained at Attari,” said SRP Sealdah Barun Mallik. Those personnel of the West Bengal Police will now be deputed with the Bureau of Immigration.

There are three international passenger train services originating in India — the Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express across the Wagah-Attari border, the Indo-Pak Thar Express from Munnabao in Rajasthan to Kokhrapar in Pakistan (Sindh province) and now the Indo-Bangla Maitree Express along the Gede-Darshana border.

“We have chosen the Wagah-Attari template as it is the oldest with an experience of 50 years now. Of course, they are better equipped than us, with five X-ray machines and 12 counters for almost the same number of passengers but things here will improve with time,” said Assistant Commissioner of customs, Rajan Datt.

The customs too, got about 43 of its officers trained at the Wagah-Attari border, said Datt. The procedures at the Wagah border are more stringent and it takes around six hours for the clearance to come through.

The scenario, meanwhile, was by far more efficient at Darshana in Bangladesh.

It took less than an hour to complete the necessary formalities for the 65 passengers who had boarded the Dhaka-bound Maitree Express on April 14. The checks at Gede took almost two and a half hours.

The customs personnel at the Darshana station are all experienced hands who had been posted at the Dhaka International Airport.

Another team is undergoing training at the airport and will replace the existing team at Darshana from next week.

“There are 11 of us here. We will hand over charge to the new team after they complete their training,” said Inspector (Special Branch) Md Saidur Rahman, team leader of the customs department personnel posted there.

Rahman proposed that the authorities of both countries should consider setting up facilities close to the border preferably within a walking distance of each other. The passengers can then complete the immigration and customs formalities at one go, cutting down travel time.

“This is the practice in most transnational train services,” he added.

There were at least 100 personnel from the RPF and West Bengal police who were looking into the security arrangements on the platform and the train at Gede.

Forty-three customs officials have been deployed for passenger clearances. The Kolkata -bound train had four to five security personnel manning each compartment to prevent the entry of outsiders as it halts at stations on the route from Gede to Kolkata.

But passengers complained that the security team’s “approach of treating everyone with suspicion will be counter productive” and will discourage people to use the train service.

“I will avoid the train. It is harassment. They made us open our bags twice despite the routine X-ray scanning,” said Mozammal Haq, a resident of Dhaka who was visiting Kolkata on the Maitree Express. Passengers once entering the lounge area in the immigration area in Gede are not allowed to step out unless it is time for embarking. Around five to six hours are wasted for checks on both sides of the border.

The security personnel, however, do not want to compromise with the safety aspects. “There are anti-India terrorist groups operating in Bangladesh and we cannot take chances,” said a securityman posted there.