KOLKATA, May 11: West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Sunday instructed all District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to remain vigilant and ensure law and order is maintained across the state.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the state secretariat, Pant emphasised the need for seamless coordination among police, district administrations, and state agencies-particularly in border districts sharing international and interstate boundaries.
“All DMs and SPs have been directed to stay alert, especially in view of the recent escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan,” a senior official present at the meeting said. He added that inspectors-in-charge (ICs) of police stations, civil defence personnel, and other officers were also briefed to ensure close coordination at this critical time.
The state government has already conducted several meetings with the Border Security Force (BSF) and central intelligence agencies to strengthen coastal security, particularly in vulnerable areas of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas districts.
Amid fears that hostile entities may exploit the ongoing cross-border conflict to infiltrate Indian territory via the Bay of Bengal, surveillance has been stepped up along the 350-kilometre coastal stretch of the Sundarbans.
The alert follows the recent arrest of 24 illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators-including women and children-from a coastal village in South 24 Parganas, raising concerns about potential human trafficking and organized cross-border networks.
“The 350-km riverine Indo-Bangladesh border remains a major security challenge due to the impracticality of fencing and the reliance on physical surveillance,” said a senior BSF officer.
According to intelligence sources, coastal security operations were intensified from Thursday evening. By Friday morning, police presence had increased in key coastal blocks including Gangasagar, Namkhana, Patharpratima, Canning, Gosaba, and Basanti. The Sundarban Police District also deployed additional speedboats to patrol estuaries and waterways frequently used by infiltrators and smugglers.
“We are inspecting all suspicious vessels and verifying passenger identities as part of our heightened security protocol,” said a senior state police officer.
Security has also been tightened at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. On Friday, a high alert was issued and all leave for CISF personnel and airport staff was cancelled. Those already on leave were called back to duty.
The airport authority has implemented strict measures to enhance passenger safety, including a directive requiring vehicles to leave immediately after dropping off passengers. No vehicles are permitted to idle near terminal entry or exit gates.
“These measures are intended to eliminate potential security risks and ensure smooth operations within the airport,” a senior airport official said.
Similar precautions are being taken across other critical government establishments. The state government has cancelled leave for all government officials, security personnel, and legislative staff.
According to a circular issued on Wednesday, exceptions will only be made for medical emergencies and require prior approval from senior authorities. Employees have also been instructed not to leave their assigned postings under any circumstances unless medically unfit and already on approved leave.
A senior official from the state Home Department stated, “While there is no immediate threat, we are not taking any chances. West Bengal shares borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, which means we are always at risk. Preparedness is essential.” (UNI)
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