NEW DELHI, May 28: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed authorities to launch a strict crackdown on illegal constructions located near India’s international borders, reinforcing the Centre’s renewed emphasis on national security and surveillance infrastructure.
Chairing a high-level border security review meeting in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, Shah instructed officials to adopt a “zero tolerance” policy against all unauthorized structures situated within 15 kilometres of the border areas. The Home Ministry also asked local administrations to intensify monitoring of suspicious financial transactions, fake identities, illegal infiltration networks and smuggling operations operating close to frontier regions.
Officials said district magistrates have been given expanded responsibilities to coordinate with banks, intelligence agencies and local police in order to verify funding sources of businesses functioning near border belts. Authorities were also asked to identify shell companies, mule bank accounts and suspicious property transactions.
The Centre’s latest directive comes amid rising concerns over cross-border infiltration, narco-terrorism and illegal settlements in strategically sensitive zones. Security agencies have repeatedly flagged the misuse of illegal constructions for smuggling, surveillance and sheltering anti-national elements.
Amit Shah also reviewed plans related to the proposed “Smart Border Project,” which aims to deploy anti-drone systems, artificial intelligence-based monitoring and advanced surveillance technologies along vulnerable stretches of the Indo-Pak border. Officials informed the meeting that anti-drone deployment is expected to be completed in phases over the next six months.
Sources said the government has identified several high-risk sectors where stronger monitoring will be introduced, including border villages, transport hubs and trade corridors. Authorities have also been instructed to improve coordination between the Border Security Force, state police and civil administration to prevent infiltration attempts.
The Home Minister underlined that illegal migration and unauthorized activities near border regions pose long-term challenges to internal security and demographic stability. He stressed that all illegal encroachments, irrespective of their nature, would face legal action.
The Centre’s renewed focus on border security comes at a time when India is strengthening surveillance mechanisms across multiple frontiers amid evolving geopolitical tensions and growing security threats in South Asia.