Bengal residents donate land for India-Bangladesh border fencing, say they will feel safe
One of the land donors said the move would curb infiltration, cattle theft and cross-border intrusions from Bangladesh. Calling it a step towards ensuring the security of both the village and the country, he said the fencing would make residents feel safer.
Three residents of Cooch Behar district have donated part of their land for the construction of border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier. Residents said the move was driven by security concerns, as the absence of proper fencing over the years had led to infiltration, smuggling and damage to farmland.
The development comes amid a broader push to hand over land for border infrastructure after the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government came to power in Bengal earlier this month. Residents who gave land or are linked to donors said they expect the fencing to improve security in the village and nearby border areas, while the state government has also moved to transfer land to the Border Security Force for outposts and barbed-wire fencing.
Bikash Rai, one of the land donors, said the land was given for the welfare of the village and for the country's security. He said fencing would stop infiltrators from crossing the border and added that, once completed, it would make both the village and the country more secure, reported news agency ANI.
Rai said his family had given 0.2 acres of land, ANI further reported. He said that without fencing, people from Bangladesh had earlier entered the area at night, stolen cattle and taken away belongings, and that infiltration had also taken place in this way. He described the fencing as a good step by the government and said it would bring convenience and security to villagers.
On compensation for the land, Rai said it had not yet been received. He said the process was under way, the survey had been completed and the money was expected in a few days.
The initiative follows a policy shift by the newly formed state government, which, after assuming office in May 2026, made the handover of land to the BSF a priority.
On May 28, the government handed over 142.79 acres to the force as part of a plan to transfer 600 acres within 45 days of its first Cabinet meeting on May 11, 2026.
Hriday Barman, a relative of one of the donors, urged the government to finish the fencing work quickly. He said people living in the border belt would feel safer once the fencing was completed, and added that theft and smuggling had taken place on a large scale because there was no barbed wire.
Barman said there had been many problems because people from across the border used to enter the area. He said the fencing would improve security for farmers and for people living close to the border, and appealed to the state government to complete the work as early as possible.
Earlier in the day, Suvendu Adhikari said the government had stepped up efforts to strengthen border security by facilitating the construction of BSF outposts and barbed-wire fencing. The land donation by the three residents in Cooch Behar has come as part of that wider effort, with locals linking the proposed fencing to improved security and reduced cross-border crime.
Three residents of Cooch Behar district have donated part of their land for the construction of border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier. Residents said the move was driven by security concerns, as the absence of proper fencing over the years had led to infiltration, smuggling and damage to farmland.
The development comes amid a broader push to hand over land for border infrastructure after the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government came to power in Bengal earlier this month. Residents who gave land or are linked to donors said they expect the fencing to improve security in the village and nearby border areas, while the state government has also moved to transfer land to the Border Security Force for outposts and barbed-wire fencing.
Bikash Rai, one of the land donors, said the land was given for the welfare of the village and for the country's security. He said fencing would stop infiltrators from crossing the border and added that, once completed, it would make both the village and the country more secure, reported news agency ANI.
Rai said his family had given 0.2 acres of land, ANI further reported. He said that without fencing, people from Bangladesh had earlier entered the area at night, stolen cattle and taken away belongings, and that infiltration had also taken place in this way. He described the fencing as a good step by the government and said it would bring convenience and security to villagers.
On compensation for the land, Rai said it had not yet been received. He said the process was under way, the survey had been completed and the money was expected in a few days.
The initiative follows a policy shift by the newly formed state government, which, after assuming office in May 2026, made the handover of land to the BSF a priority.
On May 28, the government handed over 142.79 acres to the force as part of a plan to transfer 600 acres within 45 days of its first Cabinet meeting on May 11, 2026.
Hriday Barman, a relative of one of the donors, urged the government to finish the fencing work quickly. He said people living in the border belt would feel safer once the fencing was completed, and added that theft and smuggling had taken place on a large scale because there was no barbed wire.
Barman said there had been many problems because people from across the border used to enter the area. He said the fencing would improve security for farmers and for people living close to the border, and appealed to the state government to complete the work as early as possible.
Earlier in the day, Suvendu Adhikari said the government had stepped up efforts to strengthen border security by facilitating the construction of BSF outposts and barbed-wire fencing. The land donation by the three residents in Cooch Behar has come as part of that wider effort, with locals linking the proposed fencing to improved security and reduced cross-border crime.
