Amit Shah reviews internal security in Bengal, focus on strategic Siliguri Corridor

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday held two meetings to review internal security in West Bengal, with the discussions taking place against the backdrop of the strategic importance of Siliguri and its proximity to international borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attended the meetings, which were held behind closed doors at a hotel on the outskirts of Siliguri. Details of the deliberations were not officially disclosed. Shah is on a three-day visit to West Bengal and is scheduled to leave the State on August 22.

Strategic corridor in focus

The location of the security meetings assumes significance because Siliguri lies close to the narrow stretch of territory popularly known as the “Chicken’s Neck”. The Siliguri Corridor connects the northeastern States with the rest of India and is regarded as strategically important because of its location near several international borders.

The region’s geography has made border management and internal security particularly important. The Centre has repeatedly emphasised stronger surveillance and infrastructure along India’s eastern borders, including fencing along stretches of the India-Bangladesh boundary.

Though officials did not disclose the specific subjects discussed during Friday’s meetings, the Home Minister’s visit comes at a time when the Centre has been focusing on border security, illegal cross-border movement and strengthening infrastructure in strategically sensitive areas.

Shah praises fencing cooperation

At a public programme earlier in the day, Shah praised the Suvendu Adhikari government for providing around 900 acres of land required for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.

The Home Minister said the Centre had been seeking similar cooperation from the previous Mamata Banerjee government since 2014. Availability of land has been one of the issues affecting completion of fencing along portions of the international boundary in the State.

Shah arrived in Siliguri on Thursday as part of his three-day visit. Apart from the internal security review, his engagements in the State have also carried political significance as the BJP-led government in West Bengal and the Centre seek closer coordination on border management and security.

Friday’s meetings placed Siliguri’s strategic location at the centre of the visit, with the narrow corridor remaining critical not only for West Bengal but also for connectivity between mainland India and the Northeast.