Amit Shah announces ‘smart border’ project along Pakistan, Bangladesh borders
A technology-driven security grid with drones, radars and smart cameras will be rolled out to strengthen border security and prevent demographic changes in border regions
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (May 22) said the government will roll out a “smart border” project over the next year to make the 6,000-km borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh impenetrable, and to thwart any “conspiracy” aimed at altering the demographic character of border regions.
Addressing the annual Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF) in New Delhi, Shah also reaffirmed that the government would identify every infiltrator in the country and ensure they are sent out of India.
KF Rustamji was the first director general of the BSF after it was raised in 1965.
Smart borders, demography focus
“I want to assure BSF troops that we will launch this smart border project in the 60th year of its raising and we will make the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders impenetrable,” Shah said.
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The Modi government, Shah added, has decided to create a “strong security grid” along the Pakistan and Bangladesh fronts in the next one year. The “smart border” will be aided by technology, drones, radars and smart cameras which will help create an intrusion-proof border, he told the gathering.
The minister also urged BSF troops to ensure that the conspiracy to artificially change the demography of India is defeated. He said current state governments in Tripura, West Bengal and Assam -- all led by the BJP -- believe in the policy that there should no infiltration from across Indian borders. His ministry, Shah added, will soon hold a meeting with the chief ministers of these states on the subject of border security.
The minister added that the high-powered demography mission announced earlier will soon be rolled out by the Union government.
(With agency inputs)