The Union Home Ministry has announced plans to construct ten additional Border Outposts (BOPs) in West Bengal, with two designated for the state’s northern region. These measures aim to curb illegal immigration from Bangladesh and combat cross-border smuggling along the state’s international boundaries. Additionally, the ministry has approved the deployment of smart virtual fencing and thermal imaging systems in a specific area of North Bengal where physical fencing is challenging due to topographical constraints, such as the presence of a river.
A significant meeting on border security in West Bengal, held in Siliguri, Darjeeling district, was presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. District magistrates, district police superintendents from six North Bengal districts, and the BSF’s inspector general responsible for the North Bengal Frontier were also present. Discussions at the meeting focused on the obstacles to installing physical barbed fencing in certain strategic locations near the Indo-Bangladesh border and the Chicken’s Neck Corridor, particularly due to the Mahananda River’s presence.
Concerns were raised about the vulnerability to illegal infiltration during the rainy season in unfenced areas, prompting the proposal for smart virtual fencing and thermal imaging systems to enhance security and deter illegal activities. Emphasizing the critical importance of the Siliguri Corridor as a lifeline for India’s Northeastern states, the Union Home Minister underscored the non-negotiable security of the region. The implementation of new BOPs and advanced security technologies is aimed at fortifying the border and ensuring its impenetrability.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to Siliguri, engaged with BSF personnel at the 18th Battalion Border Outpost (BOP) near the India-Bangladesh border. He inaugurated development projects worth Rs 77.06 crore, inspected border security arrangements, planted a sapling, and interacted with BSF personnel over high tea.
