449 persons arrested while illegally crossing border during in 2025
Shillong, Dec 1: Border fencing along Bangladesh in Meghalaya sector has reached its final stages, the Border Security Force (BSF) Meghalaya Frontier Inspector General PK Upadhyay said on Monday.
The IG revealed this while unveiling the Frontier’s 2025 annual performance report, highlighting significant breakthroughs in anti-smuggling operations, improved border surveillance, and intensified community outreach along the 445-km India–Bangladesh border in the North East.
Stating that the border fencing in Meghalaya is now in its final stages, Upadhyay said the work is nearing completion across most sectors and only a few vulnerable stretches are left.
The announcement comes amid what officials described as a “dynamic and evolving situation” in Bangladesh, prompting heightened vigilance along the frontier.
The BSF reported major operational successes this year, seizing contraband valued at Rs 29.43 crore between January and November 2025. Narcotics—especially Yaba tablets, ganja, and Phensedyl cough syrup—comprised the bulk of the seizures, dealing a substantial blow to cross-border smuggling syndicates operating in the region.
Efforts to curb illegal migration saw the force apprehend 449 individuals attempting to cross the border, including 213 Bangladeshi nationals and 31 Indians involved in infiltration attempts. Officials said joint actions with other agencies helped identify critical tout networks and plug high-risk routes.
Community partnership remained a major pillar of the BSF’s strategy. The Prahari Mitra initiative significantly strengthened local intelligence networks, particularly in South West Khasi Hills, enabling the interception of six Bangladeshi criminals earlier this year.
A special recruitment push for Scheduled Tribe youth in Meghalaya drew an overwhelming response, with 15,000 applicants competing for just 300 posts, reflecting strong local interest in joining the force.
The Meghalaya Frontier highlighted multiple civic action programmes in remote border villages, including medical camps, distribution of school supplies, and vocational training. For its personnel, the BSF rolled out Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) for cashless medical care, expanded the E-Awas digital housing system, and introduced millets into daily rations in line with national guidelines.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining peace along the international border, the BSF reported several flag meetings with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the humanitarian handover of Bangladeshi nationals who inadvertently crossed into Indian territory.
IG Upadhyay said the BSF Meghalaya Frontier would continue to combine strong border security with community cooperation, even as regional dynamics in Bangladesh necessitate sharper surveillance and faster response mechanisms.
