New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 22, Saturday directed all agencies concerned to increase their footprints in Siliguri corridor by establishing more of their institutions. The Home Minister also urged to keep the strategic Siliguri Corridor free of encroachments and take all steps to stop illegal immigration in the region.
Siliguri Corridor is a 60 km long and 22 km wide area colloquially called as the ‘Chicken Neck’ which connects India’s eight north-eastern states with the rest of the country. He also urged the West Bengal government to strengthen the institution of Civil Defence and Home Guards in the Siliguri Corridor, a strategically important passage from the border security perspective.
As the corridor wedges between Bangladesh to the south and the west, Tibet (China) to the north and also links India to neighbouring Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, it is overarchingly vital and forms a key element for India’s national security.
मोदी सरकार त्रिकोणीय सुरक्षा ग्रिड से सिलीगुड़ी कॉरिडोर को अभेद्य बनाकर राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा को और सुदृढ़ कर रही है। पश्चिम बंगाल के सिलीगुड़ी में सशस्त्र सीमा बल की परियोजनाओं का शिलान्यास किया। pic.twitter.com/oMxX1iseU2
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 22, 2026
HM Amit Shah reviews security deployments across Siliguri Corridor
The Home Minister’s direction came while undertaking a review of the security of the corridor. He also discussed issues related to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) activities, demographic changes, illegal immigration and the border affairs in the meeting attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, senior officials of central and state Ministries, including Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Army, Border Sesurity Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), apart from the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of West Bengal.
आज सिलीगुड़ी में मुख्यमंत्री श्री @SuvenduWB जी व अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों के साथ पश्चिम बंगाल सरकार द्वारा शुरू की गई चार हेल्पलाइनों पर बैठक की।
कटमनी – 155334
सिंडिकेट – 155335
अवैध रोड/टोल टैक्स – 155337
अवैध शराब – 155339
इन चारों टोल फ्री नंबर पर जनता सीधे अपनी समस्याओं की… pic.twitter.com/3b4e1KQnyk— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 21, 2026
“The Home Minister directed all agencies present to increase their footprints in the corridor by establishing more of their institutions. He also reviewed the security of all vital installations on the corridor and directed that all necessary steps be taken to secure them. He further directed to keep Siliguri Corridor free of encroachments. He underscored the need to take all steps to stop illegal immigration in the Siliguri Corridor”, MHA said in a statement.
During the meeting, the Multi Agency Centre’s (MAC) Standing Focus Group on Siliguri Corridor (SFG-SC) made a presentation about progress made so far and its recommendations towards further strengthening the security of the Siliguri Corridor. During the meeting, the Union Home Minister further reviewed the status of all infrastructural projects being undertaken in the Siliguri Corridor that are critical to its security.
आज सिलीगुड़ी में पश्चिम बंगाल के मुख्यमंत्री श्री @SuvenduWB जी तथा वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों के साथ सिलीगुड़ी कॉरिडोर की सुरक्षा पर समीक्षा बैठक की।
मोदी सरकार चतुष्कोणीय सुरक्षा ग्रिड के माध्यम से सिलीगुड़ी कॉरिडोर को अभेद्य बना रही है। बैठक में जनसांख्यिकीय बदलाव और सीमा से संबंधित… pic.twitter.com/b2m82NTltU
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 22, 2026
Quadrangular approach to border security
In the meeting, the Home Minister stressed upon the concept of the quadrangular approach to border security and directed all agencies to implement it in full spirit. Emphasising the criticality of infrastructural projects in the corridor, Shah also directed all agencies present to complete all pending works in a time-bound manner. The Home Minister also suggested to the West Bengal Chief Minister to explore possibilities of opening more Sainik schools in North Bengal. He further asked the Chief Minister to work towards increasing the number of senior NCC cadets in North Bengal.
Quadrangular approach is a multi agency integrated strategy, beyond the traditional method to border security. It is a synchronised four-pillar grid articulated to ensure national security, with whole-of-the-government and whole-of-the-society approach. The quadrangular or four pillars include Armed Forces such as Indian Army, BSF, SSB; the state law enforcement agencies such as police personnel to track illegal immigration, local movements & criminal network; the civil administration and local communities. All the four elements should act as equal stakeholders in maintaining border security.
Amit Shah chairs meeting with Gorkha MLAs in Siliguri
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also held a meeting with Gorkha MPs, MLAs and prominent political leaders in Siliguri, along with the West Bengal Chief Minister, to discuss the long-pending aspirations and concerns of the Gorkha community and to work towards a just, dignified and lasting resolution.
In a post on X, Shah said that the meeting discussed the “long-pending aspirations and genuine concerns of the Gorkha people” and a practical roadmap forward. “Reiterated that under the leadership of PM Modi the government is firmly committed to addressing these issues. Further assured them that every possible effort will be made to address their legitimate aspirations within the framework of the Constitution”, Shah said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has constituted a high-level Committee under the chairmanship of former Deputy National Security Advisor and Interlocutor Shri Pankaj Kumar Singh to prepare the comprehensive framework for a Permanent Political Solution with… pic.twitter.com/xoA7c9lHv3
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 22, 2026
He added that the government would work towards a solution that “honours the aspirations of the Gorkha community, safeguards their identity and ensures a better future”. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) General Secretary Roshan Giri said that a committee would be formed under the leadership of interlocutor Pankaj Singh to examine the issue and submit the next proposal to the Centre.
Held a meeting with Gorkha Member of Parliament, MLAs, and prominent Political Leaders along with CM of West Bengal in Siliguri today.
Discussed the long-pending aspirations and genuine concerns of the Gorkha people and a practical roadmap forward. Reiterated that under the… pic.twitter.com/CEIJrNI9ey
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 22, 2026
BJP MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that the meeting had paved the way for a positive outcome on the Gorkhaland issue. “The process of finding the solution we seek regarding the Gorkhaland issue has now begun. A committee is to be formed; he indicated that this committee would operate under the leadership of our Gorkhaland interlocutor, Pankaj, to examine the matter in detail”, Shringla said.
Shringla also stressed the importance of securing the Siliguri Corridor, saying, “There will be 100 per cent security at the Siliguri Corridor, which is a very important issue”. BJP MP Khagen Murmu said that the discussions also focused on threats facing North Bengal, including concerns surrounding the “Chicken’s Neck” corridor and attempts to separate North Bengal from the rest of the region.
(With Inputs from ANI)
