Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, authorities in Bihar are coordinating with the neighbouring states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand to tighten border security and prevent illegal activities. Police and administrative officials in the border districts of all three states have been placed on high alert.
To formalise this cooperation, Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit recently chaired a high-level coordination meeting with the chief secretaries, Directors General of Police (DGPs), home department secretaries, and other senior officials from the three neighbouring states.
Key Areas Of Cooperation
During the meeting, the Bihar Chief Secretary sought assistance on several fronts to ensure a fair and peaceful election. Key requests included:
Cracking Down on Smuggling: Identifying and taking action against routes used for smuggling liquor and cash, as well as dismantling the hideouts of anti-social elements in border areas.
Criminal Surveillance: Exchanging lists of known criminals to facilitate arrests and maintaining strict surveillance on those involved in smuggling liquor, cannabis (ganja) and other drugs.
Enhanced Border Checks: Identifying strategic locations to set up new blockades and checkpoints to stop the illegal movement of contraband.
New Security Measures Planned
To prevent inter-state smuggling and other illicit movements, a multi-pronged security plan has been put in place:
Mirror Checkposts: Bihar has identified several key spots for new checkpoints and has shared this list with the neighbouring states, requesting them to establish corresponding "mirror checkposts" on their side of the border. Existing checkposts will also be strengthened.
Local-Level Coordination: Instructions have been given to hold regular coordination meetings between the border districts of the states at the police station, sub-division (anumandal), and district levels.
Vigilance on Jharkhand Border: While left-wing extremist (LWE) activities in Bihar are largely under control, concerns remain about extremists entering from Jharkhand. Therefore, officials have been instructed to exercise extra vigilance and monitor all activities on the Jharkhand border.
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Polling Day Action Plan
An action plan has been prepared to completely seal the state borders on polling days. The Chief Secretary appealed to the neighbouring states for their full cooperation in implementing this plan. Assistance was also sought for the smooth movement of central security forces and election materials that will travel to Bihar through these states.
In response, the chief secretaries of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand assured their full and necessary cooperation.
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