GANDHINAGAR: In a major development for national security infrastructure, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Thursday that the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal has handed over 600 hectares of land to the Border Security Force (BSF). The land transfer was completed within seven days of the new administration taking charge under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The fast-tracked allocation is intended to immediately initiate the construction of comprehensive fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, fulfilling a core electoral commitment made by the party.
Strategic Land Allocations and Regional Security
Speaking at an event in Gandhinagar, the Home Minister detailed the scale of the territorial handovers aimed at reinforcing international borders:
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Border Fencing Acceleration: The 600 hectares of newly transferred land will allow the BSF to plug critical gaps in the fencing along the porous Bangladesh border.
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Chicken’s Neck Corridor: In addition to the primary allocation, the West Bengal government has handed over 121 hectares of land to the Central Government in the highly sensitive Chicken’s Neck corridor to bolster strategic defense.
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Political Shift: Shah credited the rapid administrative clearance to the recent change in state leadership, stating that the political realignment ensures seamless coordination between the state and the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Policy Enforcement on Illegal Infiltration
The Home Minister also highlighted a significant shift in border demographic trends following the establishment of dedicated detention centres by the new state government:
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Voluntary Departures: Shah stated that illegal infiltrators have begun returning to their native countries on their own initiative to avoid administrative action.
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Policy Reversal: Contrasting the current situation with the daily influx seen under the previous administration led by Mamata Banerjee, Shah noted that the trend of illegal immigration has effectively reversed.
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Compliance Window: The state government has offered a cooperative window for illegal immigrants who choose to leave voluntarily, promising that no formal criminal or legal cases will be registered against them if they depart before an official identification campaign begins.
Shah re-emphasized the central government’s firm, long-term resolution to identify and deport every illegal infiltrator from Indian territory, expressing optimism that the combination of strict policy and voluntary exit options would streamline the border management process.
