Amit Shah directed agencies to increase their presence in the Siliguri corridor (‘Chicken Neck’), keep it free of encroachments, and stop illegal immigration. He reviewed security and urged the WB govt to strengthen local forces in the strategic region.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday directed all agencies concerned to increase their footprints in Siliguri corridor by establishing more of their institutions, keep it free of encroachments, and take all steps to stop illegal immigration in the region — a 60 km long and 22 km wide area colloquially called as the ‘Chicken Neck’ which connects India’s eight north-eastern states with the rest of the country.
He also urged the West Bengal government to strengthen the institution of Civil Defence and Home Guards in the Siliguri Corridor, a strategically important passage from the border security perspective, as the corridor wedges between Bangladesh to the south and the west, Tibet (China) to the north, and also links India to neighbouring Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Security Review and Directives
The Home Minister’s direction came while undertaking a review of the security of the corridor. He also discussed issues related to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) activities, demographic changes, illegal immigration and the border affairs in the meeting attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, senior officials of central and state Ministries, including Ministry of Home Affairs (MHaa), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Army, Borddr Sesurity Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), apart from Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of West Bengal. “The Home Minister directed all agencies present to increase their footprints in the corridor by establishing more of their institutions. He also reviewed the security of all vital Installations on the corridor and directed that all necessary steps be taken to secure them. He further directed to keep Siliguri Corridor free of encroachments. He underscored the need to take all steps to stop illegal immigration in the Siliguri Corridor,” MHA said in a statement.
Focus on Infrastructure and Border Affairs
During the meeting, the Multi Agency Centre’s (MAC) Standing Focus Group on Siliguri Corridor (SFG-SC) made a presentation about progress made so far and its recommendations towards further strengthening the security of the Siliguri Corridor. During the meeting, the Union Home Minister further reviewed the status of all infrastructural projects being undertaken in the Siliguri Corridor that are critical to its security. He also discussed issues related to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) activities, demographic changes, illegal immigration and the border affairs.
In the meeting, the Home Minister stressed upon the concept of the quadrangular approach to border security and directed all agencies to implement it in full spirit. Emphasising the criticality of infrastructural projects in the corridor, Shah also directed all agencies present to complete all pending works in a time-bound manner.
Suggestions for North Bengal
The Home Minister also suggested to the West Bengal Chief Minister to explore possibilities of opening more Sainik schools in North Bengal. He further asked the Chief Minister to work towards increasing the number of senior NCC cadets in North Bengal.
The meeting was part of Shah’s two-day visit to Siliguri aimed at enhancing coordination among security forces and agencies engaged in border management and security preparedness in the region. (ANI)
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