KOLKATA: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced plans to formulate a unified
command called ‘Border Protection Grid’ (BPG) to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh into five northeastern and eastern states.
Speaking at a meeting with chief ministers of states sharing borders with Bangladesh – West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram – here on Thursday, the Home Minister said that concept of BPG will comprise of physical and non-physical barriers, surveillance systems, intelligence agencies, state police, BSF and other state and central agencies.
He added that the BPG will be supervised by a state-level standing committee under the chairmanship of respective chief secretaries. He stated that the BPG will ensure greater help for the states in overall border security and sought active participation of respective state governments to materialise BPG. He
also stressed on the need to develop infrastructure in the border areas and give a boost to border economy in a holistic and comprehensive manner.
The Home Minister called for preventing entry of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, some of whom may have links with extremist organisations, and stated that India must utilise good relations with Bangladesh to work together against radicalisation, smuggling of cattle and FICN (Fake Indian Currency Notes).
Singh told the chief ministers of the five states that out of 4,096 km-long border with Bangladesh, fencing, roads, floodlights and border outposts are already completed in 3,006 km of the border. Out of the remaining 1090 km-long border, 684 km border will be secured with fence and remaining 406 km of borders along rivers and nullahs will be secured with radars, day-night cameras and various types of sensors.