Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday visited Mancachar border outpost on the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam and reviewed security arrangements and the comprehensive integrated border management system (CIBMS).

Shah is on a two-day visit to Assam.

The CIBMS is a virtual fencing helping the Border Security Force (BSF) that guards the border with Bangladesh in detecting and controlling the cross border infiltration, smuggling, human trafficking and cross border terrorism.

Assam shares a 267.5-km border with Bangladesh with 63km falling under the South Salmara-Mancachar district which consist vast chars and innumerable river channels making border guarding in the area a challenging task especially during rainy season.

To address the problems the MHA decided to use technological solutions to enhance the BSF’s capabilities by going for CIBMS.

Shah said the Narendra Modi government is “providing” modern technology to our security forces to secure the country’s borders.

Influx and cattle smuggling are key issues in the border areas.

“The biggest problem in border areas was the lack of development which led to migration. The Modi government is providing continuous development due to which migration has greatly reduced. Today, I was very happy to see the enthusiasm and faith of the people living in the border area of Mankachar BOP,” he said after his inspection visit.

Senior BSF officials apprised Shah about the operational areas of the outpost and steps taken by it for border security.

After his visit to the Indo-Bangladesh border, Shah performed the bhoomi pujan of the BSF’s Central Workshop and Store (CENWOSTO) in Tamulpur falling under the Bodoland Territorial Region, inaugurated a census office and SSB building in Amingaon in North Guwahati and a super speciality hospital and the National Forensic Sciences University in Guwahati.

Shah said the establishment of a central workshop and store in Tamulpur, repair and supply of weapons to Central Armed Forces would be done from Assam itself, which will further ensure the security of the state.

He also said South Bengal, North Bengal, Guwahati, Shillong, Manipur, Cachar and Tripura frontier will be supplied with arms and ammunition and repairs will be done from this store leading to employment generation.

In Tamulpur, Shah also ceremonially launched retail outlets of Khadi and Village Industries for 107 canteens of the central armed forces.

Sarma, who accompanied Shah, thanked the home minister for selecting Assam for the BSF Central Workshop and Stores, adding the infrastructure project would boost operational efficiency of the BSF and help in economic growth of the BTR region.

“Once this project becomes operational, the BSF will have better access to arms and ammunition, weapons’ testing and repairing facilities. The BSF has been working unrelentingly for protecting the border and to check infiltration as well smuggling of drugs and other banned items,” Sarma said.

At a public rally in Tamulpur, Shah said: “We are very satisfied that in such a short span of time the Government of India and the Government of Assam have fulfilled 90 per cent of the terms of the BTR agreement.… I, once again assure the people here that the people of Bodoland will be more empowered socially, culturally, economically and politically. The language, culture and economic development here is not only your concern but also the concern of the Government of India and the Government of Assam.”

Shah said that as far as the BTR agreement is concerned, Rs 1,500 crore was to be given for the development of the BTR within three years.

“Today, the Assam government and the Government of India have given Rs 1,980 crore and in this we have given priority to institutional development...,” Shah said, assuring all-round development of the BTR which comprises of five districts.