Patna: Union home minister Amit Shah reached Purnia on Thursday evening. He is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with Army officers, senior officials and the director general of police (DGP) on Friday morning to review infiltration, crime and smuggling in the Seemanchal region.Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Seemanchal, earlier attended inauguration and foundation-laying ceremonies of several projects related to the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Araria. He said work on 14 of the 18 stretches of the 554-km border road approved under the India-Nepal Border Roads Project has been completed.The home minister also held a high-level meeting with senior state officials and district magistrates of border districts of Bihar. He said the surveillance capabilities of SSB personnel would increase manifold after completion of the road project.Shah chaired a review meeting in Araria on issues concerning the India-Nepal border and the Vibrant Villages Programme-II. Raising strategic concerns related to Bihar, he emphasised the importance of infrastructure and vigilance in border areas.Bihar deputy CM and home minister Samrat Choudhary said the NDA govt was strengthening infrastructure, culture, tourism, livelihoods and economic development in border villages through the Vibrant Villages Programme. “The security and all-round development of border villages is a priority for the Modi govt,” he said.Shah said the SSB was earlier known as the Special Service Bureau and was responsible for preserving and promoting the cultural identity and heritage of border villages. “During Atal Ji’s govt, SSB was responsible for the security of Nepal-Bhutan border. In 2001, the security of 1751-km-long India-Nepal unfenced border came under the responsibility of SSB. From 2004, the responsibility of security of 699-km-long Bhutan border was also given to SSB,” Shah said.He said that apart from border security, the SSB must maintain strict vigil against smuggling, narcotics and other illegal activities.Shah added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of significantly improving village conditions under Vibrant Villages Programme-I and II. He said it is the priority of the Modi govt to ensure that soldiers and their families receive all possible facilities.Earlier, Shah offered prayers at the Hanuman Temple in East Pali, Kishanganj.
