Shillong, Apr 30 (UNI) Confirming confirmed that there are no Pakistani nationals residing in Meghalaya, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Prestone Tynsong, even as he said that the government is closely monitoring situation along the international border with Bangladesh.
“Everything is in order along the India-Bangladesh border. But we are closely monitoring the situation on the international border,” Tynsong said.
He said the state government has given clear instructions to both the Meghalaya Police and Border Security Force (BSF) to ensure no infiltrators get to enter the Indian Territory.
BSF troopers had apprehended 115 individuals, including 78 Bangladeshi nationals and 37 Indian nationals, between January and March, 2025, for their involvement in illegal cross-border activities.
Voicing serious concern with the frequent arrest of Bangladeshi nationals in Meghalaya, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “The BSF and State government along with the Director General of Police and other security agencies hold meetings regularly monitoring the situation at the international border with Bangladesh.”
“We are aware that the situation in Bangladesh is very fluid. We are monitoring the situation closely 24×7 and we are prepared to deal with any eventuality. Moreover, the government has instructed traditional heads to cooperate with the security agencies to ensure safety of our border and that no intruders from Bangladesh can infiltrate into our territory,,” Tynsong informed.
Expressing concern about areas along the international border with Bangladesh that remain unfenced, the Deputy Chief Minister explained the main issue with the unfenced portions is because the land owners and village authorities want the fence to be erected at the zero point of the India-Bangladesh border.
“ By treaty (Indira-Mujib pact), neither country is allowed to construct permanent structures (such as a border fence) on the ‘zero line’, i.e. the actual border, but can only erect it 150 metre away from the zero point of the border. Nonetheless, the government is putting all efforts to resolve this issue with the landowners and village authorities,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, of which 49.216 km is unfenced and has terrain difficult to patrol.
A MHA official said that the ministry asked Meghalaya government to expedite fencing work as the area was prone to infiltration by militants and illegal migration.
“Construction of fencing is an important security measure for securing the border. It can prevent infiltration of migrants and address the challenges of cross-border criminal activities, smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking,” the MHA official said.
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