Bhuj: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed district magistrates of Gujarat’s border districts to closely monitor demographic changes and submit regular reports, while also maintaining strict vigilance against radicalisation and infiltration along the India-Pakistan border.
The directions were issued during a high-level security review meeting held in Bhuj on May 29, focusing on security challenges in Gujarat’s border and coastal districts adjoining the international border with Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, senior state officials, and district magistrates and police chiefs from border regions including Kutch, Vav-Tharad and Patan.
Shah instructed local administrations to formulate district-specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to address challenges related to infiltration, drone activities, narcotics trafficking and other security threats.
He emphasised the need for coordinated action at all administrative levels to identify and address illegal infiltration.
“From police stations to patwaris, everyone must work in unison to ensure repatriation of already settled infiltrators from the region,” the Home Minister said during the meeting.
Shah also directed authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards unauthorised encroachments within a 0-15 kilometre radius of the international border and ensure their removal.
The Home Minister claimed that infiltration and cross-border smuggling into Gujarat had effectively ceased, attributing this to strengthened security measures along the border.
He further noted that reverse migration to border areas due to industrial development and economic opportunities was a positive sign for the region.
To strengthen coordination among agencies, Shah instructed the state administration to establish a Security Coordination Group in every border district. These groups will include representatives from the Border Security Force (BSF), Indian Coast Guard, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Lead Bank Managers.
The Home Minister also called for enhanced surveillance against hawala transactions, suspicious financial activities, mule bank accounts, shell companies, suspect vehicle movements and irregular GST collections in border districts.
The meeting comes amid continued efforts by security agencies to strengthen border management and curb cross-border threats, including narcotics trafficking, illegal infiltration and financial crimes.
