Shillong: The District Magistrates of East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts, Meghalaya, have imposed night curfews along the unfenced stretches of the Indo-Bangladesh border to prevent infiltration, militant movement, and illegal cross-border activities.
The East Khasi Hills administration has enforced a night curfew from 8 pm to 6 am within a 1-kilometre radius from the international border, citing increased risks of infiltration by members of proscribed militant groups, smugglers, and other criminal elements.
According to District Magistrate R.M. Kurbah, the region is particularly vulnerable due to unfenced border areas, where anti-national elements may attempt to gather during night hours to carry out nefarious activities.
The curfew order, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibits the movement of individuals attempting to cross the border illegally, the assembly of five or more people with potential weapons such as sticks and stones, and the smuggling of items including cattle, betel nut, dry fish, cigarettes, and other contraband goods.
The order is effective immediately and will remain in force for two months, unless revoked earlier.
Similarly, in West Jaintia Hills, District Magistrate Abhinav Kumar Singh has also imposed a curfew along a 200-metre stretch from the Zero Line, effective from 8 pm to 6 am daily.
The curfew aims to curb illegal cross-border movement and activities involving armed groups and organized crime syndicates.
Authorities fear that such groups could exploit the porous terrain for infiltration, especially during night hours.
Both orders have been issued ex-parte, citing the urgency of the situation, and are aimed at preserving peace and national security in the sensitive border regions.
Security forces, including the Border Security Force (BSF), local police, and intelligence units, have been alerted and directed to take appropriate enforcement measures.
Residents living in the border areas have been urged to cooperate with authorities and report any suspicious movement or activity.
