Inspired by Israeli’s security fence, India is building a 2,000 mile fence along its border with Bangladesh, the length of the US-Mexico border. The fence is manned by 80,000 members of India’s Border Security Force (BSF).
Constructed to prevent Islamic militants from crossing into India, the fence is most known for the hundreds of civilians killed while farming and traveling along the border region. It is the sad unintended consequence of imposing a de jure border where de facto none exists. The deaths are the result of the infinitely steep learning curve for locals, one day they can visit a field, the next day they are shot doing just that. The BSF argues it is protecting India. It is a tenuous argument: BSF patrols have reportedly killed more Indians than Bangladeshis.
Christopher Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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