Amit Shah calls for close checks on international borders
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has given new orders to boost security along India’s international borders. He is focusing on stopping the misuse of land, property, and financial channels in sensitive border areas. At a recent meeting at the BSF Tripura Frontier headquarters in Salbagan, he asked for a detailed review of land records from the past five years. He also called for more careful monitoring of financial transactions, large construction projects, and property sales and purchases along the borders.
These directives apply to international orders. These orders cover all international border areas, with a special focus on the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura right now. The goal is to build a strong security system by bringing together central forces, state officials, local authorities, and new technology. The meeting included Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, DGP Anurag Dhankar, senior officers, and district magistrates and police chiefs from all eight border districts. Shah said that keeping the borders secure is a shared job for district officials, revenue officers, village leaders, and local communities. security grid that integrates the BSF, modern technologies, and district machinery to manage the border. Shah’s instructions target vulnerabilities that can be exploited for infiltration, smuggling, or demographic engineering. Authorities must conduct a detailed review of all land records in border areas covering the last five years to identify suspicious transactions, encroachments, or irregular sales.
Financial transactions, property sales and purchases, and big construction projects along the borders will now be watched more closely. States are responsible for ensuring financial discipline in these districts.
To address this oversight, collectors and GST officials will receive training to improve their supervision of these activities. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) will also check for fake currency in border areas.
These actions aim to spot and stop activities that could help cross-border crime, illegal immigration, or allow anti-national groups to use real estate or financial deals as cover. Shah also announced new steps for the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura: BSF cameras will be upgraded and connected directly to district control rooms. Tripura will be the first state to use this CCTV system, which will later be used in other India-Bangladesh border states.
At the same time, regular operations against drug and arms trafficking will continue with a tough approach against everyone involved. Special training camps will also be set up for people living near the border to help them deal with drug and gun threats. These camps will include revenue officials, local police, and BSF staff.
This order is part of Shah’s ongoing tour to review border security in several states. In recent weeks, he has led similar meetings in Rajasthan and Gujarat along the India-Pakistan border. There, he ordered that all illegal buildings within 15 km of the border be demolished as part of a strict zero-tolerance policy.
Shah asked for close monitoring of population changes in border districts and the creation of Security Coordination Groups that include the BSF, Income Tax, and the Enforcement Directorate. The government’s new Smart Border Project will use drones, radars, advanced cameras, and a four-layer security system that also involves citizens. Shah has often said that stopping illegal immigration is key to protecting India’s population, a point he has made in recent comments about West Bengal, Tripura, and Bihar.
By including district collectors, revenue officials, and local communities, the government wants to build several layers of defence against infiltration and the smuggling of drugs and weapons. Officials believe that illegal land deals, big construction projects, or suspicious money movements in border areas could help cross-border threats.
The five-year audit of land records should quickly identify any problems, and connecting cameras to the local administration will help officials respond more quickly. These steps are expected to make real estate and financial activities in border districts more transparent and better regulated, while also improving national security.
As India works toward smarter, more secure borders, Amit Shah’s latest orders show the Modi government’s strong focus on prioritising border security through technology, improved administration, and community involvement.
