Amit Shah orders demolition of illegal structures within 15 km of international border

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New Delhi, May 27 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday directed authorities to enforce a strict “zero tolerance” policy against illegal constructions within 15 km of India’s borders and to demolish all such structures that have developed over time.

Chairing a security review meeting in Bikaner on Tuesday, Shah assessed the security situation in Rajasthan’s border districts along the India-Pakistan border. Senior officials, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, district magistrates and police chiefs from Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Sri Ganganagar and Phalodi attended the meeting. According to the Home Ministry, the district administrations have been tasked with tightening oversight of banking transactions in border areas, verifying large businesses, tracing funding sources, identifying mule accounts and shell companies, and checking for fake identity documents, including Aadhaar misuse. Authorities have also been asked to intensify action against cross-border smuggling networks.

Shah called for a “360-degree security cover” for border districts, involving citizens, state agencies and central security forces. He stressed coordinated action among the Border Security Force, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Narcotics Control Bureau and state authorities to tackle infiltration, drug trafficking, encroachment, terror financing and other cross-border crimes.

The ministry also highlighted the implementation of the Vibrant Villages Programme II to improve governance, infrastructure and livelihoods in remote border villages.

District officials were further directed to ensure full saturation of government welfare schemes and make effective use of the cybercrime helpline “1930” to tackle digital fraud. A follow-up review of the measures will be conducted in two months, the ministry said.