West Bengal Intensifies Border Fencing and Surveillance to Combat Infiltration from Bangladesh
DNA Explained | West Bengal govt accelerates Bangladesh border fencing, focus shifts to remaining gaps and rail surveillance
Zee News&w=1200&q=75)
Image: Zee News
The West Bengal government is accelerating border fencing along its 2,200 km border with Bangladesh, with 569 km still unfenced due to previous land acquisition policies. Enhanced surveillance on railway routes is also being implemented to curb illegal infiltration, reflecting a broader strategy for national security.
- 01Approximately 1,644 km of the West Bengal-Bangladesh border has been fenced, leaving 569 km unfenced across nine districts.
- 02Previous land acquisition policies slowed down fencing efforts, requiring direct negotiations with landowners.
- 03Railway police have been instructed to intensify checks on suspected infiltrators, especially at key transit points like Bongaon and Basirhat.
- 04The current approach draws comparisons to Assam's anti-infiltration measures, which have seen large-scale identification and deportation of illegal migrants.
- 05Estimates suggest India could host between 1.25 crore and 2 crore illegal Bangladeshi migrants, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
In West Bengal, the government is ramping up efforts to complete border fencing along its extensive 2,200 km border with Bangladesh, where 1,644 km is already secured. Approximately 569 km remains unfenced, primarily due to challenges in land acquisition policies from the previous administration that required negotiations with individual landowners. Recent policy shifts have revitalized the fencing initiative, with several locations seeing resumed work. The strategy now extends to enhancing railway surveillance, as these routes are frequently exploited by infiltrators moving into urban centers like Kolkata. Railway police have been directed to intensify checks and collaborate with border security agencies at crucial transit points, such as Bongaon and Basirhat. This approach mirrors the anti-infiltration framework implemented in Assam, where significant identification and deportation efforts have been undertaken. Official estimates indicate that India may have between 1.25 crore and 2 crore illegal Bangladeshi migrants, underscoring the pressing need for effective border management and national security measures.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The intensified border fencing and surveillance measures are aimed at reducing illegal infiltration, which could affect local communities and security dynamics in West Bengal.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Do you support increased border security measures in West Bengal?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.