Araria, February 26 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday called for a detailed action plan to remove "encroachments" in areas near the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, highlighting the region's vulnerability to "infiltration".
The directions were issued at a meeting held at the Araria collectorate, attended by administrative and police officers from six other border districts – West Champaran, East Champaran, Supaul, Sitamarhi, Kishanganj, and Madhubani.
Also present at the meeting were Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Cooperation.
Earlier in the day, Shah launched over Rs 175 crore worth of projects of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in the Sikti block of Araria, where he expressed concern over "infiltration", "demographic changes", and "encroachments" in border areas.
The home minister, who arrived in Bihar on Wednesday, said, "During the three days, we will try to come up with a detailed action plan to remove all encroachments within 10 km of the border. This will be achieved through concerted efforts of the Union Home Ministry, District Magistrates, Superintendents of Police, and other officials from the affected districts."
The meeting at the Araria Collectorate was followed by another, where Shah reviewed the implementation of Vibrant Village 2, a 100 per cent centrally funded programme aimed at developing rural areas near "international land borders".
Shah is scheduled to conclude his three-day visit to Bihar on Friday, when he is likely to hold a meeting with officials in the adjoining district of Purnea before boarding his return flight.