Shillong: In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Meghalaya government has ramped up border security measures along its 443-km stretch with Bangladesh.
The move comes just two days after the incident, with authorities aiming to prevent any potential cross-border threats.
According to officials, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, currently in New Delhi en route to the Vatican for Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, is actively monitoring the situation and has instructed security forces to remain on high alert.
He emphasised the need for seamless coordination between state agencies and the Border Security Force (BSF) to bolster surveillance and response capabilities.
A senior official from the state Home Department confirmed that the chief minister had strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and is personally overseeing steps to strengthen Meghalaya’s border defenses.
“He has directed intensified vigilance and better synergy among all involved agencies,” the official said.
Meghalaya’s Director General of Police, I. Nongrang, has also been tasked with ensuring tight coordination with BSF units and other law enforcement bodies to secure the vulnerable international boundary.
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Notably, about 20% of the state’s border remains unfenced due to its challenging topography, which includes numerous rivers and wetlands.
In a recent statement, the BSF revealed that 78 Bangladeshi nationals have been apprehended this year for illegally crossing into India, along with six individuals suspected of facilitating their entry.
The agency reiterated its commitment to securing the region and curbing unauthorised movements across the border.
