Union Home Minister Amit Shah vowed to identify and deport every illegal infiltrator from India while strengthening border security in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal. He urged the BSF to intensify surveillance, stop demographic alteration, and eliminate infiltration networks completely.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday declared that the Central government is committed not only to stopping infiltration into the country but also to identifying every illegal infiltrator individually and ensuring their deportation from India.
Addressing the K.F. Rustomji Memorial Lecture organised in honour of the founder and first chief of the Border Security Force, the Home Minister stressed that the government would not allow any deliberate attempt to alter the demographic structure of border states through illegal infiltration. He also announced that a high-level meeting with the Chief Ministers of Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal would soon be convened to strengthen the border security mechanism in the region.
Calling demographic alteration a serious conspiracy against the nation, Shah said that the BSF has a major responsibility in preventing such activities. According to him, governments in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal now support the policy that infiltration must be completely stopped.
The Home Minister urged the BSF to move beyond traditional border guarding duties and establish stronger coordination with local administrative systems. He said the force should maintain communication with village-level officials, police stations, district collectors, and district superintendents of police to detect infiltration routes, illegal entrants, and cattle smuggling networks operating near the borders.
He asserted that identifying infiltration channels and stopping illegal activities is the direct responsibility of the BSF. Shah further stated that the Central government is determined to eliminate infiltration in the same manner that it tackled Maoist insurgency in several parts of the country.
Referring to the government’s anti-Maoist campaign, Shah recalled that many officials had earlier expressed doubts about the possibility of eliminating Maoism. However, he praised the security forces for successfully carrying out difficult operations and weakening extremist activities significantly. Drawing a parallel, he expressed confidence that security personnel would also succeed in eradicating infiltration from its roots.
He said security threats should never be ignored or allowed to continue for years, adding that decisive action is necessary to address such challenges permanently.
Highlighting recent measures taken by the Union government, Shah noted that the jurisdiction of the BSF has been expanded from 15 kilometres to 50 kilometres inside border areas for conducting searches and arrests linked to infiltration and cross-border crimes. He also mentioned that the government of West Bengal has started handing over land required for constructing border fencing in vulnerable areas.
The programme also included the BSF Investiture Ceremony, where 43 personnel of the force were honoured for their service and dedication to national security.
During his address, Shah praised the growth and achievements of the BSF since its establishment in 1965. He said the force has evolved from a modest organisation working under difficult circumstances into one of the world’s largest and most respected border guarding forces.
The Home Minister said the patriotism and dedication displayed by BSF personnel under extreme weather conditions, dense forests, mountainous terrains, and coastal regions have made the force the country’s first line of defence.
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He added that India had adopted a policy of assigning one dedicated force to guard each international border and, considering the capability and efficiency of the BSF, the force was entrusted with securing two of the country’s most sensitive and challenging borders with Bangladesh and Pakistan.
