Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed district magistrates of Gujarat’s border districts to monitor
and regularly report on demographic changes occurring in their districts.
He further directed that sharp vigil must be kept on centres of radicalisation within border areas.
Shah gave these directions during a security review meeting in Bhuj, Gujarat on May 29, focussing on security-related issues concerning the border and coastal districts of the state situated along the India-Pakistan Border (IPB).
Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Chief Secretary, Gujarat DGP, along with other senior state government officials, as well as the District Magistrates and Kutch SPs, Vav-Tharad and Patan were present in the meeting.
Shah directed that the local administrations should formulate SOPs for specific challenges and requirements of each border district, to ensure identification of existing infiltrators, as well as threats related to drones and narcotics
“From police stations to patwaris, everyone must work in unison to ensure repatriation of already settled infiltrators from the region,” the Home Minister added.
Shah further ordered that all unauthorised encroachments within a 0 to 15 km radius of international border must be eliminated with a zero tolerance policy.
He claimed during the meeting that infiltration into the state and cross-border smuggling have completely ceased.
The minister further noted that reverse migration happening in border areas due to the establishment of industrial units is a welcome development.
Shah further asked the state administration to form a security coordination group in every district, comprising representatives from BSF, Coast Guard, IT Department, ED and Lead Bank Manager.
He also called for maintaining strict vigil in border districts for ‘hawala’ transactions, financial dealings, mule accounts, shell companies, suspicious vehicles and GST collections.
