India has stepped up surveillance and anti-drone preparedness after warnings of possible drone attacks on strategic installations near land and maritime borders.

New Delhi, June 16: Security agencies across India have intensified protective measures at critical infrastructure and strategic locations following a government alert regarding potential drone threats along the country's land and coastal borders.

The warning, issued through the Maritime Security Division of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, has prompted the deployment and evaluation of anti-drone systems at several sensitive sites. Authorities are focusing on installations located near border regions and coastal assets considered vital to national security.

Warning Triggers Action

According to officials familiar with the development, the alert highlighted the growing threat posed by hostile drones and stressed the need for immediate protective measures.

The communication called for urgent steps to safeguard key facilities, particularly those situated near international borders. It noted that hostile unmanned aerial systems have the potential to disrupt operations at critical infrastructure and strategic establishments.

The advisory comes at a time when drone warfare and cross-border aerial threats have become increasingly prominent in regional and global security discussions.

Anti-Drone Systems Planned

Following the alert, multiple agencies have accelerated efforts to identify and deploy suitable anti-drone technologies.

Sources indicated that installations considered vulnerable are being assessed for surveillance upgrades and electronic countermeasure systems capable of detecting, tracking and neutralising unauthorized drones.

The focus remains on creating layered protection around facilities that could be targeted by hostile aerial platforms.

BSF Leading Evaluation

The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a specialised committee under the supervision of the Border Security Force (BSF) to evaluate available anti-drone technologies.

The committee has been tasked with testing and recommending systems best suited for India's operational requirements. Initial trials have reportedly begun in border areas of Punjab, where security agencies have been monitoring drone-related activities for several years.

Officials said the outcome of these evaluations will guide future procurement and deployment decisions.

Multi-Agency Coordination

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has also formed a dedicated team to assess security requirements at important locations.

The team includes representatives from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Airports Authority of India (AAI) and BSF. Officials involved in the exercise are conducting inspections at key sites across the country to determine vulnerability levels and recommend appropriate counter-drone solutions.

A final decision on deployment locations is expected after technical assessments are completed and approved by the Home Ministry.

Tamil Nadu Port Sets Example

One of the most significant developments in India's anti-drone strategy has been the installation of an advanced anti-drone system at the port facility in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.

The system was commissioned earlier this year at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port, making it the first Indian port to adopt such technology for operational security. Developed in partnership with government-owned Central Electronics Limited, the system combines radar and radio-frequency technologies to identify, track and disable hostile drones.

Officials say the platform provides 360-degree surveillance coverage and has been designed specifically for maritime environments.

Lessons From Operation Sindoor

The renewed focus on anti-drone preparedness follows security experiences from Operation Sindoor in May 2025, when Indian air defence systems responded to aerial threats during military tensions with Pakistan.

Defence sources have previously stated that radar networks and air defence assets successfully intercepted hostile drones and aerial platforms during the operation. The episode reinforced concerns about the growing role of drones in modern conflict and highlighted the need for stronger protective infrastructure.

As drone technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, security planners are increasingly treating counter-drone capabilities as a critical component of national defence.

A special holding centre in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district has become the focus of an ongoing anti-infiltration operation after 26 Bangladeshi nationals were detained and brought to the facility as part of a statewide verification drive. Authorities say the individuals were identified during recent enforcement operations targeting illegal immigration and are currently being housed at a secured centre in Phatapukur under Rajganj block.

According to administrative sources, the detainees were transported from the Islampur region of North Dinajpur district on Thursday. The group includes 15 women and seven children, prompting officials to balance security measures with humanitarian considerations while legal and identity verification procedures continue.

The development comes amid intensified efforts by state and central agencies to identify individuals allegedly residing in India without valid documentation and to verify their citizenship status through established legal procedures.

Detainees Shifted from North Dinajpur

Officials said the group was brought to the Phatapukur holding centre following a verification exercise conducted in parts of North Bengal. Preliminary findings suggest that the individuals may have entered India illegally several years ago and had subsequently settled in different areas of West Bengal.

Administrative sources indicated that many of those detained were reportedly engaged in informal occupations, including daily wage labour, painting work, and rickshaw pulling. Authorities are currently examining documents and conducting identity verification to establish the exact circumstances of their stay in the country.

The verification process is expected to determine the next course of legal action.

Security Measures Strengthened

Security around the holding centre has been significantly enhanced following the arrival of the detainees. The facility has been secured with high barricades, while surveillance systems have been installed to monitor activities within and around the premises.

Officials confirmed that CCTV cameras are operational throughout the facility and that access remains strictly controlled. Police personnel, civic volunteers, and central security forces have been deployed round the clock to maintain law and order.

Authorities said the enhanced security arrangements are intended to ensure the safe management of the facility while legal proceedings remain underway.

Focus on Women and Children

With a significant number of women and children among those detained, officials have emphasized that adequate arrangements have been made to meet their basic needs.

According to administrative sources, accommodation, food, sanitation facilities, and essential services are being provided inside the holding centre. Authorities have stated that special attention is being given to vulnerable individuals while they remain under administrative supervision.

The detainees are expected to stay at the centre until verification procedures and related legal formalities are completed.

Verification and Legal Process Underway

Officials have not yet announced a final decision regarding the future status of the detainees. However, sources indicated that the matter is being handled in accordance with applicable laws and established procedures governing foreign nationals and border management.

Identity verification remains the primary focus at this stage. Authorities are examining documents, conducting background checks, and coordinating with relevant agencies before determining any further action.

Administrative officials stressed that all steps will be taken in accordance with legal requirements and due process.

Possible Coordination with Border Agencies

Sources familiar with the process indicated that, following completion of verification, coordination with border management authorities could take place if required under existing legal frameworks.

The Border Security Force (BSF) may become involved in subsequent stages depending on the outcome of identity checks and administrative review. Officials, however, have not issued any formal statement regarding future transfers or repatriation-related procedures.

Public Interest and Administrative Response

The development has drawn attention from local residents, particularly given the heightened security presence around the holding centre. Authorities have appealed to the public to avoid speculation and rely only on official information regarding the case.

The Phatapukur facility has emerged as an important administrative centre during the ongoing anti-infiltration drive, reflecting broader efforts by government agencies to verify the status of suspected foreign nationals and maintain updated records.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday visited the Border Security Force’s (BSF) Sanchu Post in Bikaner, one of the most historically significant Indian frontier posts on the Rajasthan–Pakistan border. Shah arrived by helicopter at about 11:00 am and spent close to an hour at the outpost, where he interacted with jawans and reviewed the ground situation, officials said.

Historic post, frontline view

Sanchu Post, which has seen action in two India‑Pakistan wars, sits in the desert sector near Zero Point where the international boundary runs visibly across the plains. According to BSF officials, Shah inspected the post’s defensive positions and observation points and was shown the stretch of Pakistani territory that can be viewed from the zero line. Local officers said he was the first Union Home Minister to visit the Sanchu Post.

“Initial reports indicate the minister spent time with troops in the scorching afternoon heat, asking about operational challenges and welfare issues,” a senior BSF source said on condition of anonymity. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma accompanied Shah during the visit.

Meeting with collectors, SPs

After returning to Bikaner city, Shah is scheduled to chair a meeting with the Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) from five border districts. The meeting, to be held at the BSF sector headquarters in the afternoon, will focus on rising smuggling activity along the border and other law-and-order concerns linked to national security, officials said. Senior officers from agencies involved in border management are also expected to attend.

Officials said the discussion will cover inter‑agency coordination, intelligence sharing and measures to curb cross‑border smuggling of goods and arms. Shah is expected to remain in Bikaner until around 12:30 pm before proceeding to the meeting, sources added.

Vibrant Village scheme launch

The visit will also see the launch of the Vibrant Village initiative for 184 villages along the Rajasthan border. Under the central scheme, work will begin to improve road connectivity and provide 4G mobile network access to these border habitations, officials said. The programme aims to improve living standards and strengthen resilience in remote frontier communities, while also improving surveillance and connectivity for security forces.

Shah reached Bikaner late on Monday and stayed overnight at the BSF Sector Headquarters after arriving by air at around 10:30 pm, according to local officials. The two‑day visit to border areas is part of a series of engagements by the Home Minister with forces and administrators in frontier districts.

Ground reality and local reaction

At the Sanchu Post, ground staff described an arid landscape dominated by sand and scrub, with long sightlines toward the Pakistani side. Troops briefed Shah on routine patrols, surveillance infrastructure and the logistical challenges posed by extreme daytime temperatures, a BSF official said. No operational developments or security incidents were reported during the visit.

Local residents and panchayat leaders welcomed the announcement of infrastructure work under the Vibrant Village scheme, saying better roads and mobile connectivity would help farmers and traders and improve access to emergency services. “Connectivity will make life easier for border villagers,” one sarpanch said, requesting not to be named.

Why the visit matters

Officials said the timing of the visit reflects growing central attention on border management and rural development in frontier districts. Smuggling along porous stretches of the India‑Pakistan border has been a recurring concern for both security forces and state governments; the upcoming meeting is likely to canvass tactical and administrative steps to tighten checks.

What’s next

After the Bikaner meeting, officials said Shah will receive a briefing on implementation plans for the Vibrant Village scheme and proposed timelines for road and telecom rollouts in the 184 listed villages. Follow‑up visits and reviews by central and state agencies are expected as work proceeds.

For now, the visit underscored a message of visibility and oversight — part inspection, part administrative review — with the Home Minister emphasizing coordination between security forces and district administrations along a sensitive stretch of the western border.

BSF to get land within 45 days: Bengal joins Ayushman Bharat as CM Suvendu clears 6 major moves

In his first Cabinet meeting at Nabanna, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the implementation of several central schemes and a crackdown on illegal border activities.

Kolkata: Marking a tectonic shift in West Bengal’s administrative direction, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday chaired his first cabinet meeting at Nabanna, clearing six major policy decisions that align the state closely with the Centre. Highlighting national security and public welfare as immediate priorities, the Chief Minister announced that all pending land requirements for the Border Security Force (BSF) would be cleared within 45 days.

The meeting, which took place just two days after the BJP government was sworn in following a landslide victory, also saw the official entry of West Bengal into the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme—a long-standing point of contention between the previous TMC regime and the Union government.

Focus on border security and land transfer

The decision to expedite land handover to the BSF is being seen as the new administration's first major move to curb illegal infiltration. Addressing the media after the session, Adhikari alleged that the previous government had deliberately stalled border fencing projects.

“National security cannot be a matter of political negotiation. We have directed the Land and Land Reforms Department to ensure that 100% of the required land for fencing along the international border is handed over to the BSF within 45 days,” the Chief Minister said. Sources in the state secretariat indicated that nearly 90% of the land identification process is already in its final stages.

Rollout of Ayushman Bharat and central schemes

In a move that will impact millions of families, the cabinet gave its nod to implement the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, popularly known as Ayushman Bharat, in West Bengal. The Health Secretary has been instructed to sign the necessary Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Health Ministry immediately.

Beyond healthcare, the state will now also adopt other flagship central programmes including PM Vishwakarma, PM SHRI, and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative. The Chief Minister emphasized that these schemes would complement existing state-run social programs, which he assured would not be stopped but made more transparent through updated DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) portals.

Relief for government job aspirants

Addressing a key poll promise that resonated with the state’s youth, the cabinet approved a five-year relaxation in the upper age limit for government job applicants. This move is intended to compensate for the "lost years" of recruitment cycles that were allegedly frozen or marred by litigation in the past decade.

“We are committed to the youth of Bengal. This relaxation will ensure that those who missed out on opportunities due to administrative delays get a fair shot at serving the state,” Adhikari added.

Administrative and legal overhaul

The cabinet also signaled a shift in how the state’s bureaucracy and police interact with the Centre. West Bengal cadre IAS and IPS officers will now be permitted to attend central government training programs, a practice that had seen significant friction previously.

On the legal front, the government announced the full implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Chief Minister noted that criminal and anti-social activities would be dealt with strictly under the new central laws, adding that the state would also immediately begin the 2025 Census process as per the Ministry of Home Affairs circular.

Tribute to political martyrs

The meeting began with a formal tribute to 321 individuals described by the government as "martyrs" of political violence in Bengal. Adhikari stated that the families of these workers would receive the state's full support.

“This government is born out of the sacrifice of our workers. We will ensure justice reaches every corner of Bengal where lawlessness once prevailed,” he said.

Crackdown on syndicates and smuggling

Earlier in the day, Nabanna issued high-level instructions to district Superintendents of Police to initiate an immediate crackdown on cattle smuggling and "syndicate raj" (unauthorised construction and supply cartels).

A separate law-and-order review meeting was held at 5 pm, where senior officials including the Director General of Police and the Kolkata Police Commissioner were briefed on the new government's policing priorities.

Future roadmap for the Cabinet

The next cabinet meeting is scheduled for next Monday, where the government is expected to discuss the formation of a fact-finding committee regarding the RG Kar case and other issues concerning women's safety. Senior leaders like Dilip Ghosh and Agnimitra Paul, who were present at today's meeting along with other newly inducted ministers, are expected to play a central role in these upcoming deliberations.

As the Adhikari administration moves towards a "paperless office" system and a complete administrative overhaul, the first day’s decisions have set a clear, aggressive tone for the BJP’s debut innings in West Bengal.