BSF jawans keep up vigil in Kalaichar Border Haat in Indo-Bangladesh border in Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
| Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar
The authorities in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district have imposed a night curfew within a kilometre of the India-Bangladesh border to check illegal activities and stop infiltration.
The order, issued on Thursday (August 21, 2025) under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, restricts the movement of people in the designated zone from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Initially, the imposition will be for two months.
The restriction bars individuals from attempting to enter Indian territory or cross into Bangladesh illegally. It also bans the assembly of five or more people, carrying of weapons or objects that can be used as weapons, and smuggling activities.
Officials stated that cattle, betel nut, betel leaves, dry fish, bidis, cigarettes, tea leaves, and contraband goods were frequently smuggled across the border. They also said the ongoing situation in Bangladesh was one of the reasons behind the decision.
Meghalaya and Bangladesh share a 444 km-long border, about 20% of which is unfenced due to various reasons. One of these reasons is the opposition from villagers whose houses and farmlands would be fenced out because of an international rule that disallows the construction of defence structures within 150 metres from the zero-line separating two countries.
The night curfew decision follows the visit of a three-member panel to border areas affected by the intrusion of armed Bangladeshi miscreants on August 8. These intruders had tried to loot some shops and abduct a villager, reportedly for ransom.
The villagers later caught and thrashed six miscreants. One of them died of his injuries at a local hospital later. An identity card recovered from one of the intruders indicated he was a member of the Bangladesh police force.
“Outposts of the Border Security Force exist, but several stretches of the border remain unguarded due to hilly terrain and the lack of fencing, which the intruders exploit,” MLA Marthon J. Sangma, one of the panel members, said.
Published – August 23, 2025 01:12 am IST
