Shah orders vigil on land deals on border
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered careful monitoring of financial transactions, large construction projects, and property sales and purchases along India’s international borders. 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.
At a recent meeting at the BSF Tripura Frontier headquarters in Salbagan, the minister asked for a detailed review of land records from the past five years to identify suspicious transactions, encroachments and irregular sales. The meeting included Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Chief Secretary JK 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.
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.
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. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) will also check for fake currency in border areas. Shah also 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.
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.
Home Minister Shah further announced upgrading BSF cameras along the border and connecting them directly to district control rooms. Tripura will be the first state to use this system, which will later be used in other India-Bangladesh border states.
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.
