Night curfew along border in Garo Hills

Shillong: The South and West Garo Hills district administrations on Friday imposed night curfew along the India-Bangladesh border in response to the heightened risk of cross-border infiltration by ‘unwanted elements', including members of proscribed militant groups and smugglers.

The curfew, enforced under Section 163 of the BNSS, will be in place from 8pm to 6am daily and will cover an area up to 500 meters from the zero line of the international border and remain in force until further orders.

As per order issued by the South Garo Hills district magistrate Hema Nayak on Friday, the prohibition aims to curb illegal movement and preserve peace and security in the sensitive border district.

In her order, Nayak stated that the South Garo Hills' border areas, being unfenced and porous, are especially vulnerable to infiltration and anti-national activities, particularly at night. The order warns that such activities, if unchecked, could destabilize peace not only in the district but across the state and the country.

In a similar order, West Garo Hills district magistrate Vibhor Aggarwal said the night curfew along the international border would continue till further orders.

On Thursday, the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills district administrations had imposed night curfew along the India-Bangladesh border. Stating that such "illegal, undesirable activities" should be prevented in order to maintain peace and tranquility in the district, state and the country. District magistrate Abhinav Kumar Singh had announced imposition of curfew from 8 pm to 6 am up to 200 metres from the Zero Line (international border).

In a similar order on Thursday, East Khasi Hills district magistrate RM Kurbah had also noted that the bordering areas in the district being unfenced are highly prone to infiltration and had imposed night curfew in one km radius of the international border for a period of two months.