The Border Security Force near Bangladesh has decided to launch a sting operation against cross-border smuggling drives.

In an innovative initiative, the BSF has installed beehives along stretches of India’s border with Bangladesh to deter smuggling and criminal activities. India and Bangladesh share a 2,500km-long border, where the forces have to combat a slew of illegal activities, including smuggling of items ranging from gold to narcotics to cattle.

BSF authorities claimed that during an instance of disturbance or unusual activity, such as attempts to cut the fencing, for example, the bees would immediately sting the persons involved, forcing them to flee.

Medicinal plants are also being grown along the border.

For this, the BSF has joined hands with the ministry of Ayush to launch a project to grow medicinal plants and beehives along the fenced stretches.

The medicinal plants will help the bees pollinate in abundance.

Bee attacks apart, the beehives and medicinal plants would also generate livelihood for local villagers and help them move them away from the smuggling network, it is being hoped.

Under the “Vibrant Village Programme”, BSF authorities have distributed over 3,000 saplings of medicinal plants like satamukhi and tulsi among the residents near the border at Gede in Nadia.

The saplings have been planted on a 1km stretch along the border.

Artificial beehives are being fitted on fencing near the plants.

Leaves of the satamukhi (Colocasia) plant are rich in vitamins A, C, and B-complex, and minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Tulsi is a natural immunity booster, reduces colds and respiratory troubles, and controls blood pressure.

Once the medicinal plants grow, the Ayush authorities will collect their produce to prepare herbal products.

These, as well as honey from the beehives, will be marketed through the BSF and villagers will monetarily benefit from it.

Ayush will provide technical support for the cultivation of medicinal plants, BSF authorities said.

The brain behind the project, Sujeet Kumar, commanding officer of BSF Battalion 32, said, “Our objective is to enhance the life of the border people by helping them earn, and also combat the fencing-cutting attempts of smugglers.”