Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday chaired a high-level security review meeting in Bhuj, Gujarat, to assess border and coastal security along the India-Pakistan border. The meeting was attended by senior state officials, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and district-level administrators from border regions.
Shah said border fencing, maritime security measures and the state’s strong political resolve had transformed Gujarat’s security landscape, leading to the complete cessation of infiltration and cross-border smuggling. He directed authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards unauthorised encroachments within a 15-km radius of the international border and maintain strict surveillance on centres of radicalisation in border areas.
The Home Minister instructed district administrations to closely monitor demographic changes in border districts and welcomed reverse migration driven by industrial development in these regions. He called for coordinated efforts from all levels of the administration, from police stations to patwaris, to identify and deport illegal infiltrators and tackle threats related to drones and narcotics. He also asked local administrations to formulate district-specific SOPs to address emerging security challenges.
Shah further ordered the formation of Security Coordination Groups in every border district, comprising representatives from the BSF, Coast Guard, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate and the banking sector. He said the responsibility for effective enforcement of Income Tax, anti-money laundering and Customs laws should rest with the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and Inspector General of the Border Range.
Emphasising the need to combat financial crimes, Shah directed authorities to maintain strict vigilance over hawala transactions, mule accounts, shell companies, suspicious vehicles and GST-related irregularities in border districts. He also called for extensive survey drives by the Income Tax Department in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India.
Highlighting the strategic importance of Gujarat’s coastline, Shah stressed the need to strengthen coastal security and ensure close coordination with the Indian Coast Guard. He also directed officials to ensure full saturation of Central and state government welfare schemes in border villages under the Vibrant Villages initiative.
