Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting in Tripura to review issues related to border areas and called for the creation of a foolproof territorial security grid involving local administration, advanced technology and the Border Security Force (BSF) to strengthen border management.
The meeting, held in Salbagan, was attended by Tripura Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, senior state officials, and District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from all eight border districts. Discussions focused on enhancing border security through greater coordination between Central and state agencies.
Emphasising that border security is not solely the responsibility of security forces, Shah said it should be treated as a territorial responsibility involving District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, Patwaris, village representatives, modern technologies and the BSF. He stressed that fencing alone would not ensure security and called for a comprehensive territorial defence framework integrating local administration and smart surveillance systems.
The Home Minister directed authorities to organise awareness and training camps for residents living along border areas to help them tackle threats posed by narcotics and arms trafficking. He said local police personnel, Patwaris and BSF officials should actively participate in such programmes.
Shah also instructed officials to implement the Ministry of Home Affairs’ CCTV surveillance model in Tripura on a pilot basis. He directed that all BSF cameras be upgraded and linked with district administrations to improve monitoring and intelligence-sharing.
Expressing concern over cross-border smuggling and organised crime, the Home Minister called for frequent operations against drug and arms trafficking networks. He said the entire chain involved in narcotics trafficking should be targeted with a strict and uncompromising approach.
Highlighting the importance of financial vigilance in border districts, Shah said state governments must ensure financial discipline and strengthen monitoring of suspicious transactions. He directed that Collectors and GST officials be trained for this purpose and asked the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to conduct a survey related to fake currency circulation.
The Home Minister also called for close monitoring of large-scale construction activities, financial transactions and property sales in border areas. He instructed authorities to examine land records from the past five years to identify any irregularities.
Shah reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, strengthening border security remains a top priority for the government. He said close coordination between Central and state agencies is essential to ensure the security, development and stability of border regions.
