By Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday directed officials in Rajasthan’s border districts to remove all illegal constructions within 15 kilometres of the international border with Pakistan, signalling a tougher approach towards border security and trans-border crimes.
The directive came during a high-level security review meeting in Bikaner, where Shah assessed the situation along Rajasthan’s sensitive western frontier. The meeting focused on tightening surveillance, improving coordination among agencies and strengthening what officials described as a “360-degree border security framework”.
Senior officials from the Union Home Ministry, the Rajasthan government, Border Security Force (BSF), police and district administrations attended the review. District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police from Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar and Phalodi were specifically instructed to identify and demolish unauthorised structures located close to the border zone.
According to officials, the Centre wants border districts to function under a more integrated security model where local administration, intelligence agencies and security forces work together instead of operating independently. Shah reportedly stressed that illegal encroachments and suspicious infrastructure near the border could pose security risks if not monitored strictly.
The Union Home Minister also asked authorities to intensify action against infiltration networks, narcotics smuggling, terror financing and cyber-related crimes. Agencies including the BSF, Narcotics Control Bureau and financial intelligence units have been asked to coordinate more closely to track suspicious financial activities, shell companies and fake identity documents.
Officials said district administrations were instructed to keep a close watch on banking transactions, verify large business establishments and identify mule accounts often used for illegal cross-border activities. The Centre also emphasised the need to fully implement the new criminal laws and improve response systems for cybercrime complaints through the national helpline.
Another major focus of the meeting was the Vibrant Village Programme-II, under which the government plans to strengthen infrastructure and governance in border villages. Shah underlined the importance of ensuring that welfare schemes reach every household in these remote areas, arguing that strong border communities are equally important for national security.
The meeting comes amid the Centre’s broader push for a “Smart Border” strategy involving drones, radars, surveillance cameras and advanced monitoring systems to make India’s borders more secure and technologically equipped.
