SILIGURI, Aug 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired two review meetings focused on internal security in Siliguri on Friday as part of his three day visit to West Bengal, sources said.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was present at the meetings, which were held behind closed doors at a hotel on the outskirts of the city. Officials did not disclose details of the discussions.
The meetings assume importance because of Siliguri’s strategic position close to the international borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The city also serves as a key gateway to the northeastern region through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, commonly referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck”.
The corridor is considered strategically significant as it links the northeastern states with the rest of India.
During a public programme earlier on Friday, Shah praised the Suvendu Adhikari-led government for providing around 900 acres of land needed for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.
The Union Home Minister said the Centre had been seeking similar cooperation from the Mamata Banerjee government since 2014.
Shah arrived in Siliguri on Thursday as part of his three-day state visit. His programme is scheduled to conclude on August 22.
The visit comes amid continued focus on border management and security in areas surrounding the strategically important Siliguri Corridor.
