AMN / Kolkata
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asked five eastern states sharing boundaries with Bangladesh to be extra vigilant against illegal influx through the porous Indo-Bangla border.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers of the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) States, in Kolkata today The Home Minister had earlier conducted border specific review meetings for Indo-China, Indo-Myanmar, Indo-Pakistan borders.
At a meeting of chief ministers and home ministers of West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura in Kolkata, Mr Singh said, a border protection grid on the lines of Unified Command set up in insurgency-hit states will soon come up in these states to check illegal infiltration. He said, the concept of the grid has been planned as a multi-pronged and foolproof mechanism to secure the Indo-Bangla border.
The Home Minister said, NDA government has been giving highest priority to secure India’s international border by putting in place a robust system to facilitate legitimate trade and commerce. He said, radical elements and terrorists can only be checked with joint action and active cooperation of central and state governments.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal sought a new law to check the cross border smuggling, including cattle, and effective steps to end illegal immigration. He said, the central government should set a deadline to completely seal the international border with Bangladesh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appreciated the central government’s initiative to hold this meeting of the chief ministers and offered full cooperation to any joint action.
While appreciating the role of BSF for their unshakeable courage, skills, determination and dedication in securing this border, Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated that they should be more vigilant. He expressed satisfaction over the active participation and assurance of all cooperation given by the states.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State (Home Affairs) Shri Kiren Rijiju, Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Assam and Mizoram, Union Home Secretary, Secretary (Border Management), MHA, DG BSF, Chief Secretary Meghalaya, Secretary, Home, Tripura.
Senior officers of MHA and other Ministries of Government of India besides State Governments also attended.