Amit Shah reviews Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura, bats for tighter security
The Union Home Minister also pointed out centre’s efforts in plugging security gaps & advancing a smart border project to curb illegal infiltration
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressing the BSF personnel at Lankamura Border Outpost on the India-Bangladesh Border in Tripura (Photo: @AmitShah/X)
Agartala, June 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted the Centre's zero-tolerance stance towards demographic changes in border states such as Tripura, West Bengal and Bihar, while emphasising the government's efforts to strengthen border security.
Addressing BSF personnel at the Lankamura Border Outpost in West Tripura district, Shah said the government was taking all necessary measures to enhance surveillance and plug vulnerabilities along international borders.
“Demographic changes in West Bengal, Tripura and Bihar will not be tolerated. The Centre is making all efforts to bridge the gaps in guarding international borders,” the Home Minister said.
Highlighting the government's border management strategy, Shah said the Centre's ambitious "smart border" project was in its final stages and would soon be rolled out on a pilot basis.
“The concept of a smart border will be implemented at seven to eight locations across the country as a pilot project,” he said.
According to Shah, the proposed security architecture will integrate advanced surveillance technology, active participation of local administrations and enhanced coordination with border guarding forces to create a more robust and responsive border management system.
The visit assumes significance amid growing concerns over illegal infiltration and its impact on the demographic profile of border regions.
Shah's visit to the Lankamura outpost was aimed at assessing the ground situation along the India-Bangladesh border and reviewing the effectiveness of existing security mechanisms.
Later in the day, the Union Home Minister is expected to chair a high-level security review meeting at the BSF Tripura Frontier headquarters in Shalbagan, with a special focus on border management and security preparedness along the India-Bangladesh boundary.
The meeting is likely to be attended by Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, Director General of Police Anurag Dhankar and senior officials from various security agencies.
Shah, who arrived in Agartala on Thursday evening, also laid the foundation stone for the proposed Pushpabanta Palace Hotel at Kunjaban, Agartala.
“The iconic Pushpabanta Palace, a symbol of Tripura’s rich royal legacy, is set to be transformed into a world-class heritage hospitality destination by Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), Tata Group’s flagship hospitality company,” said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha in a social media post after the foundation stone laying ceremony.
Earlier in the day, Shah's scheduled visit to the historic Tripura Sundari Temple in Gomati district was cancelled after adverse weather conditions prevented his helicopter from taking off.
“The Union Home Minister's visit to the Maa Tripura Sundari Temple has been cancelled due to bad weather,” Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather said.
The Tripura Sundari Temple, one of the 51 revered Shakti Peethas in the country, was redeveloped under the Centre's Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) scheme at a cost of over Rs 54 crore.
The redeveloped complex was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September last year.
PTI