Border States flag illegal migrants on voter rolls, use of drones, apps by smugglers
Police chiefs from India's border districts met to discuss security challenges, including illegal migration, the use of encrypted apps for smuggling, and the presence of illegal migrants on electoral rolls. Officials highlighted specific cases of forged documentation and the need for better infrastructure in border villages.
Why it matters
National security concerns regarding border integrity and the integrity of electoral processes are critical issues for Indian domestic policy.
At the first-ever conference of police chiefs from districts sharing borders with neighbouring countries, the States flagged several key concerns, including the presence of illegal migrants on electoral rolls despite the special revision of voter lists in Assam , the alleged misuse of the Nepal border by radical elements to reach Punjab , and the use of applications such as WhatsApp, Skred, and Zangi for arms and narcotics smuggling across the Pakistan border, a senior government official told The Hindu .
The migration of people from border villages is also an area of concern. “Border villages cannot only comprise border-guarding forces and police. The emptying out of villages due to lack of infrastructure and job opportunities was flagged and several initiatives such as the Vibrant Villages Programme were listed,” said another government official.
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