India has a total boundary of 3,910 km with Bangladesh, of which nearly 2,450 km has been demarcated on the ground. This boundary, determined under the Radcliffe Award, divided erstwhile province of Bengal into two parts; eastern part going to Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) and western part remaining with India as the state of West Bengal.
The Bangladesh-West Bengal boundary (2,272 km) follows the principle of communal majorities more closely than in Punjab, but probably with less reason, and it rather seems to favour the Muslims (Spate, 1947, p. 211). In the Koch-Bihar region, the boundary award left a number of small enclaves of Indian and Pakistan (Bangladesh) territory on either side of the border.
The Nehru- discussion of 1958 had resolved by 1960 a nu– problems including that of the Koch-Bihar reign number of disputes were referred to a tribune which Justice A. Bagge of Sweden had been by both parties.
There were four areas of overlapping the first was between Rajshahi (Bangladesh) Murshidabad (India) where the channel of the fluctuates frequently and the boundary has several times. The award here was in favouroble and the northern portion of the district boundary confirmed as the international boundary. Anot disputed area was along the West Bengal -Bangladesh border between Karimpur (India) and Daul (Bangladesh).
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In this instance the Radcliffe Aw was amended and a half way line in the Matabh River was designated to form the boundary. Bangl desh gained nearly 13 sq. km from this award (Tayye 1966, pp. 92-94). The third disputed area was in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh and the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills district of India. This is a densely forested area, and hence demarcation is difficult here the Radcliffe Award was confirmed, and India’s claim was sustained.
A fourth dispute existed in the boundary zone between Barisari and Gobindpur, Another disputed area is the ‘Berubari Union No, 12’ (22.7 sq. km) half of which under the arbitration award would be given to Bangladesh. In April 2001 Bangladesh Rifles personnel forcefully occupied Peerdivah village (Meghalaya) and brutally killed 18 Border Security Force personnels. This generated a lot of tension between the two countries.
Major portion of India-Bangladesh boundary has been successfully demarcated and disputes amicably resolved. The agreement on the sharing of the Ganga water under Farakka barrage is a good example of growing understanding between the two countries. India and Bangladesh have resumed bus services between Kolkata and Dakha and a proposal is under their active consideration for the construction of Brahmaputra-Ganga link canal. But still there are many unresolved issues and doubts.
An important misunderstanding is about India’s action to erect barbed-wire fence along the Bangladesh border to check illegal migration of refugees from Bangladesh Hills, Manipur, and Nagaland on the Indian side and the Chin Hills, Naga Hills and Kachin State on the Myanmar side. The India-Myanmar boundary is based on natural features and was defined in the pre- independence period under the treaty of Yundaboo in 1926. Nearly 870 km of the boundary follows major or minor watershed, and about one-third coincides with median lines of streams and rivers.
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The remainder of the border comprises staight lines between established boundary pillars. The boundary was delimited precisely by a bilateral treaty signed on March 10, 1967. This included the distinct sections of the boundary (Naga section, Manipur section and Mizo section) covering a length of 1449.6 km. Some difficulty arose near the Diphu Pass, the tri-junction between India, Myanmar and China. India’s claim has been that the Diphu pass is not the tri-j unction but rather a few km south of it.
The major problem along the India-Myanmar boundary is related to insurgency and smuggling. On the Myanmar side, Communist supported rebels are playing a significant part in instigating Karnes, Kachins and Shans to fight for their independence from Myanmar. Similarly, on the Indian side, the Nagas, Mizos and Assam Hill people are receiving aid and encouragement from the Chinese and Burmese Communists. Similarly a lot of smuggling of drugs and narcotics is going on along this border.
The India-Myanmar boundary has normally remained a peaceful boundary. This is due to a spirit of understanding. Between the two neighbouring countries and to resolve the issues amicably. Such an understanding was noticed in resolving the dispute over the light house on the Table Island in the Bay of Bengal. Under the agreement India accepted the rights of the Myanmar over the island but was given a lease of the light house for a period of 25 years. Similar good-will gesture was shown by India in giving the Kabaw valley to Myanmar.
There were numerous border conflicts between Nepal and the British since 1769. The Anglo- Nepalese war of 1814-15 concerning the disputed border areas resulted in the Treaty of Sugauli, which was signed on December 2, 1815. The Treaty was ratified in March, 1916, which gave important advantages to the British. Under the terms of the Treaty, the Himalayan districts of Nainital, AIih Garhwal, Dehra Dun and Shimla Himalayas annexed by the British (Karan and Jenkins, 196:1 85). The eastern tracts were given to Sikkim.l 1858, a part of Tarai was restored to Nepal by British as a reward for the help of Gorkha troops^H the suppression of the first struggle for indeper Hence in 1857.
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The present boundary between Inifl and Nepal is the boundary demarcated in 1858. BoH the governments also agreed upon the preservatii^B of a strip of uncultivated land of 10 yards in width both sides of the British-Nepalese border. The priiH ciple on which the demarcation on the boundaij between British India and Nepal was carried weiH contained in a resolution in June 1882, by the Nonplus western provinces Government. The resolution (PoaH B) directed that “except where natural obstacle if terrenes the line from pillar to pillar may be r« garded as straight.”
The present boundary between IndiaandNepilB is the boundary demarcated in 1959. The boundaijB is peaceful and there is no boundary dispute between the two neighbours.
30.4.6. The India-Bhutan Boundary
The India-Bhutan boundary is the outcome of long history of border conflict between the British and the Bhutanese since 1775. Under a treaty signed Iat Sanchula on November 11, 1865, betweenBhutan and Great Britain, British annexed Bhutanese territory along Bengal, Koch Bihar and Assam border? The territory annexed was a narrow strip of land at the foot of the hills at an average width of 3 5 kms and 350 kms in length. Through this Treaty, Bhutan was awarded Rs. 50,000 per annum as a British subsidy’ to Bhutan which was raised to Rs. 1,00,000 with effect from January 10,1911, with revision of 1865 treaty on January 8, 1910.
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Bhutan-Tibet (China) boundary follows the crest of the Great Himalayas-the watershed for the most part. Chinese claim about 775 sq. km of the northern Bhutan and reject the water divide principle. The watershed as the frontier between the two countries has evolved through history and has considerable support for such a claim. It is also supported by settlement, custom and tradition.
India’s friendly ties with Bhutan are based on the 1949 treaty which provides a sound framework
to ensure “perpetual peace and friendship”. Under the treaty India has got the rights to protect Bhutan’s sovereignity and defend its borders. Indian army units are permanently stationed all along the Bhutan-Tibet border.