Shah visits West Bengal to review border issues

In what was being viewed as an enhanced effort to ensure peaceful law and order situation in view of recent socio-political developments an additional 50 companies of central forces were being deployed in West Bengal. 

The forces that were likely to come in 3-4 days’ time would double the existing post poll deployment from 50 to 100 companies

Though there was no official statement from any quarter sources in the State Government said that the additional forces were being deployed in view of the coming festive seasons. 

The central forces comprising jawans of Central Armed Police Force, Seema Suraksha Bal and Border Security Force would “assist the State police in maintaining law and order during the festive season and would be distributed in all the 32 police districts including Kolkata,” sources said refusing to comment on any intelligence input about any possible law and order issues during the Durga Pujas.
The decision o9f enhanced deployment of central forces comes in tandem with the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the State.

Shah was likely to reach Siliguri late on Thursday evening when his three-day visit to Bengal would commence. The Home Minister was likely to inaugurate a ‘Law Exhibition’ organised by the Union government at Kawakhali ground on Friday. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari too was likely to attend the programme.

Shah was also expected to chair a border-security review meeting on August 22, sources said adding the purpose of the meeting was to evaluate the coordination among the BSF, SSB, intelligence agencies and state authorities.

His visit assumes significance in the backdrop of rising importance of Siliguri corridor — also called chicken’s neck — in view of the changing political situation in some neighbouring countries.  “Chicken’s Neck”, an approximately 20-km wide stretch connecting rest of India with the North East is strategically important because of its proximity to neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China.

There will be high-level reviews of international security, an official said adding his visit was a continuation of the steps the Centre was taking to strengthen border security in the eastern side of the country. This was the second visit of the Home Minister after the BJP Government came to power in Bengal.