Shillong: The Meghalaya government has intensified its push for a new approach to border security, urging the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to negotiate with Bangladesh for a closer alignment of the border fence.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong stated that the move is crucial to secure a 40 km unfenced stretch without stranding villages in “no man’s land,” a predicament that arises from the standard international norm of building fences 150 yards inside a country’s territory. This standard practice, Tynsong explained, would leave several villages vulnerable and outside the security barrier, a risk the state is unwilling to take.
Tynsong, who also holds the Home portfolio, chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to review border security in the wake of a recent infiltration attempt and the subsequent arrest of Bangladeshi nationals. He emphasized that building the fence closer to the actual border pillars would effectively shield these villages from external threats. The recent surge in concern follows a brazen incident in Rongdangai village, where six members of an armed gang, allegedly led by a Bangladesh Police constable, crossed into India, assaulted a shopkeeper, and looted valuables. The state has since submitted a detailed report on the arrests to the MHA, confirming that the motive behind the infiltration was purely criminal.
Authorities have now put deputy commissioners and superintendents of police on high alert, instructing them to implement proactive measures along the entire India-Bangladesh border, stretching from East Jaintia Hills to Dalu in Garo Hills. Joint operations involving the Border Security Force, Meghalaya Police, and local Village Defence Parties are now underway to secure all possible exit routes and flush out any remaining gang members still on Indian soil. While one of the main accused, who allegedly used explosives during the incident, has fled back to Bangladesh, security forces are working tirelessly to apprehend him.
Tynsong expressed confidence in the state’s police force, stating, “We are alert and I am very sure our police force will be able to nab and push back those infiltrators.” He further added that with “close coordination,” the state is confident of overcoming these border security challenges.
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