Union Home Minister Amit Shah started his Seemanchal tour by paying tribute at a large Hanuman Temple at Kishanganj and thereafter went to Araria to conduct a high-level review meeting with regard to border security and infiltration matters. The trip has attracted administrative concern as well as political responses in the volatile border state of Bihar.
Shah held worship at the temple in Kishanganj under close security and with local BJP leaders and party workers present. After visiting the temple, he would go to Araria, where he would chair meetings with senior officials of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Border Security Force (BSF), intelligence agencies and government.
The Seemanchal region – which includes the districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar – has proximity to the international borders, and it has long been seen as the focus of attention because of the issues linked to illegal infiltration and smuggling and cross-border activities. In the review meeting, Shah should evaluate ground-level security measures, surveillance, fencing tasks and central state agency liaison.
The officials suggested that the reinforcement of the border outposts, enhancing the intelligence sharing processes and the development of infrastructure in the frontier village within central schemes will also be discussed. The Home Minister will also meet the security personnel and appraise the development in the border regions.
Nonetheless, the visit has occasioned political controversy. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) condemned the tour, accusing the Centre of considering administrative reforms in Seemanchal, including talk of turning the area into a Union Territory. RJD leaders termed the move a political one and attributed it to future electoral factors.
However, the BJP has insisted on the visit being more concerned with enhancing national security and getting coordination on a better front to curb infiltration and illegal activities across the border. The leaders of parties disregarded the opposition’s arguments as unfounded and politically motivated.
The state of security was increased in Kishanganj and Araria before the arrival of the Home Minister with the traffic diversion and high concentration of the police forces.
The Seemanchal visit highlights the fact that the Centre is still paying attention to border management and internal security despite the escalating political rhetoric in the frontier districts of Bihar, which are strategically located.
