Shillong: The District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya imposed a night curfew along the India-Bangladesh border on Thursday in an effort to curb illegal activities and prevent cross-border infiltration.
The curfew will be effective from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM within a radius of 1 kilometre from the zero line of the international border for a period of two months from August 21, 2025, District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, Rosetta Mary Kurbah said.
The order has been issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS)
The curfew was necessitated in view of the current situation in Bangladesh, where there is every likelihood of cross-border movement of unwanted elements, members of proscribed militant groups, smugglers and any other illegal activities on the India-Bangladesh border.
“The curfew was imposed to prohibit movement of people at the international border with the intention to cross the international boundary with Bangladesh or sneak into the Indian territory, unauthorised procession or unlawful assembly of 5 or more persons, carrying of arms and other lethal weapons in and around the India-Bangladesh border,” Kurbah said in her order.
The order also bans illegal, undesirable activities, smuggling of cattle, contraband goods, betelnut, betel leaves, dry fish, bidis, cigarettes and tea leaves.
Moreover, Kurbah said that a certain portion of the international border areas in the East Khasi Hills district is still porous and prone to infiltration by illegal migrants, members of organised crime having linkage to anti-national elements, including armed insurgent groups who may gather in large numbers near the international border during the night hours to continue their nefarious activities.
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“Whereas, such illegal and undesirable activities, if not prevented, may lead to uncontrollable cross-border infiltration resulting in breach of peace and tranquillity in the district,” Kurbah said.
Notably, Meghalaya shares a 443-km-long border with Bangladesh, of which 367.155 km has been fenced. Close to one-fifth of this stretch remains without fencing due to challenging terrain and unresolved land issues.
Gaps in border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier have raised alarm after a recent intrusion in Meghalaya’s South West Khasi Hills, where armed men allegedly tried to abduct a local villager.
