Shillong |  The Meghalaya government has directed district administrations along the India-Bangladesh border to initiate the process for imposing curfew in border areas amid concerns over infiltration.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong with officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Meghalaya Police on Tuesday. Tynsong said district administrations have been asked to consult traditional heads, including Rangbah Shnongs, before proceeding with curfew measures in the border areas.

He said Village Defence Parties (VDPs) have also been activated in villages along the international border. The government is coordinating with traditional leaders, village headmen and VDP members to strengthen surveillance along the border belt.

Addressing concerns over cross-border movement despite the presence of the BSF, Tynsong pointed to Meghalaya’s difficult terrain and limited accessibility as major challenges.

He said the state’s border landscape differs significantly from the plains, making continuous surveillance difficult in some stretches, particularly during the night. Incomplete border infrastructure and unfenced stretches also remain challenges for security agencies. Tynsong said the BSF and Meghalaya Police were working together to strengthen security and prevent unauthorised cross-border movement.

The state government has previously used night curfews along parts of the international border under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), including restrictions on movement near the zero line and activities such as smuggling.

Tynsong said the government’s objective was to bring infiltration down to “zero level” and stressed the need for continued coordination among security agencies, district administrations and local communities.