North Bengal43 minutes ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inspected the India-Bangladesh border in North Bengal, with a special focus on the strategically crucial Chicken’s Neck (Siliguri Corridor), and later chaired a series of high-level meetings at Uttarkanya to review border security and internal security preparedness.
Shah inspects sensitive Chicken’s Neck border
Shah visited the Jumma Gachh border area in Rajganj block, where he reviewed security arrangements with Border Security Force (BSF) officials. He directed authorities to strengthen surveillance along vulnerable stretches, particularly the unfenced sections of the Mahananda River, to curb illegal infiltration and cross-border smuggling. He also planted a tree at the border outpost and interacted with BSF personnel.
BSF interaction, Uttarkanya review meetings begin
Earlier in the day, Shah attended the BSF Prahari Sammelan in Siliguri before heading to Uttarkanya for marathon review meetings. This marked the first visit by a Union Home Minister to Uttarkanya, the administrative headquarters of North Bengal.
Strategic corridor faces heightened security concerns
The meetings were attended by West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, senior BSF officers, Army officials and other security authorities. Discussions focused on the security of the Siliguri Corridor, illegal infiltration, Centre-State coordination, implementation of the new criminal laws and the birth and death registration system.
Border fencing, new outposts receive priority
The review comes amid heightened security concerns over the strategic corridor, particularly in the backdrop of China’s increasing regional activities and political developments in neighbouring Bangladesh over the past two years. The Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the Chicken’s Neck, is a narrow land strip connecting mainland India with its northeastern states and is considered one of the country’s most sensitive strategic zones.
Meetings review infiltration and criminal laws
Officials also discussed expediting the construction of three-tier border fencing in vulnerable areas of North Bengal. Shah announced the inauguration of 10 new Border Outposts (BOPs) across West Bengal, including two under the North Bengal Frontier.
According to officials, Shah held three key meetings till 6 pm, reviewing border security, illegal infiltration, Centre-State coordination, implementation of the new criminal laws, and the functioning of the birth and death registration system.
