Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 7: The Government of India on Saturday dismissed social media claims suggesting that the Centre plans to create a new Union Territory by merging certain districts from Bihar and West Bengal located near the strategically sensitive Siliguri Corridor.
In a clarification issued through its official fact-checking arm, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government termed the circulating posts as false and urged people not to believe unverified information being shared online.
Posting on X, the PIB said that claims about the creation of a new Union Territory comprising districts from Bihar and West Bengal around the Siliguri Corridor are “fake” and have no factual basis.
The agency further clarified that the government is not considering any such proposal at present. According to the PIB, no discussions are underway within the Centre regarding the formation of a new Union Territory in the region.
The clarification came after several posts on social media suggested that the government was planning to carve out a new administrative region by combining districts close to the Siliguri Corridor in order to strengthen security in the strategically important zone.
Rumours circulating online claimed that districts from Bihar—such as Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar—could be included in the proposed territory, along with districts from West Bengal like Malda and Uttar Dinajpur.
These claims gained traction because of the strategic importance of the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow land strip in northern West Bengal near Siliguri. Often referred to as India’s “Chicken’s Neck,” the corridor serves as the only land link connecting mainland India with the northeastern region.
At its narrowest point, the corridor is roughly 20–22 kilometres wide and extends about 60 kilometres in length. Despite its small size, it plays a crucial role in maintaining economic connectivity, transportation routes and military access between the rest of India and the northeastern states.
The passage connects the country to eight northeastern states — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim—making it a vital lifeline for more than 45 million people in the region.
Reiterating its warning against misinformation, the PIB advised citizens to verify information through official sources before sharing it on social media platforms.