Guwahati: The Meghalaya government has directed district administrations along the India-Bangladesh border to begin the process for imposing curfew amid concerns over infiltration.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong with officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Meghalaya Police on Tuesday.
Tynsong said district administrations have been asked to first hold consultations with traditional heads, including Rangbah Shnongs, before proceeding with the imposition of curfew in the border areas.
He also said Village Defence Parties (VDPs) have been activated in villages along the international border. The state government is coordinating with traditional leaders, village headmen and VDP members as part of efforts to strengthen surveillance in the border belt.
Addressing concerns over how people continue to cross the border despite the presence of the BSF, Tynsong cited Meghalaya’s difficult terrain and limited accessibility as major challenges.
He said the state’s border areas differ significantly from the plains, making it difficult for security personnel to maintain continuous visibility across stretches of the frontier, particularly at night.
Tynsong also acknowledged that border infrastructure remains inadequate and said the government was facing several challenges in securing the international boundary.
Despite these difficulties, he maintained that the BSF and Meghalaya Police were working together to prevent infiltration and strengthen security along the border.
The minister said the government’s objective was to bring infiltration down to “zero level”, while emphasising the need for continued coordination between security agencies, district administrations and local communities.