Daijiworld Media Network - Bhuj
Bhuj, May 30: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday directed authorities in Gujarat’s border districts to adopt a strict zero-tolerance policy against illegal encroachments, strengthen measures to curb infiltration and financial crimes, and closely monitor demographic changes in sensitive frontier regions.
The directions were issued during a high-level security review meeting held in Bhuj focused on border and coastal security along the India–Pakistan frontier. The meeting was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, and Director General of Police K.L.N. Rao, along with senior officials from districts including Kutch, Vav-Tharad, and Patan.
Shah stated that enhanced border fencing, maritime surveillance, and coordinated enforcement efforts have significantly improved security in Gujarat, asserting that infiltration and cross-border smuggling had been largely brought under control due to sustained political will and administrative action.
He instructed officials to remove all unauthorised constructions within the 0–15 km belt along the international border and emphasised that any encroachment in these zones should be dealt with under a zero-tolerance framework.
The Home Minister also raised concerns over demographic changes in border districts, describing them as one of the most serious emerging challenges in the region. He directed district administrations to maintain continuous surveillance and submit regular reports on population shifts and related developments.
At the same time, Shah acknowledged that reverse migration in certain border areas, driven by new industrial investments, was a positive development contributing to local economic growth.
Calling for stronger enforcement, he instructed officials across administrative and policing levels—from local police stations to revenue officers—to work in coordination to identify and act against illegal infiltrators already residing in border areas.
Shah further directed district administrations to formulate district-specific standard operating procedures to address region-specific security challenges, including threats linked to drone activity and narcotics trafficking.
To enhance inter-agency coordination, he proposed the creation of Security Coordination Groups in every border district. These groups will include representatives from agencies such as the Border Security Force, Indian Coast Guard, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, and banking sector officials.
The Home Minister also stressed the need for strict monitoring of financial crime networks, including hawala transactions, mule accounts, shell companies, suspicious vehicle movements, and irregular GST-related activities in border regions.
He said agencies involved in financial enforcement must be kept fully informed of developments in border districts, and called for coordinated surveys by the Income Tax Department in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India.
Shah emphasised that responsibility for enforcing laws related to taxation, anti-money laundering, and customs should be shared among district magistrates, police chiefs, and senior border-range officials.
Highlighting Gujarat’s long coastline and its strategic maritime proximity, he reiterated the importance of coastal security and urged closer coordination with maritime enforcement agencies.
He also directed officials to ensure full coverage of government welfare schemes in border villages, including the implementation of the ‘Vibrant Villages’ programme, with a target of complete saturation of benefits.
The meeting was part of the Centre’s broader push to strengthen integrated border management and address evolving security, financial, and demographic challenges along India’s western frontier.