Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to Siliguri, said that the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) arrested 4,000 smugglers and traffickers and seized 16,000 kg of narcotics in 2024.

Shah is in Siliguri to attend the 61st Raising Day celebrations of SSB at Ranidanga, which falls on Siliguri’s outskirts.

“I have no tension over the Nepal and Bhutan border because that is being guarded by the SSB,” said Shah on Friday, saying that the SSB is “successfully” guarding 2,450 km of open borders.

“When borders are open, forces’ responsibility increases much more. (The SSB) successfully kept the 15-km area of the border encroachment-free. They practised zero tolerance and acquired these lands without disturbance. They took on a major role in stopping trafficking along the border. This year, the SSB also seized 208 modern weapons and rescued 301 persons — among them, 231 were children,” he said.

“The Siliguri road is strategically very important as it connects us with the north-east. The SSB maintains peace along this road, which enables smooth transportation,” said Shah.

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang welcomed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his wife, Sonal Shah, during their early morning visit to Siliguri, describing the meeting as “warm and memorable.”

Apart from the SSB event, Shah’s visit will include an assessment of the security situation along the India-Bangladesh border near Ranidanga. The Union Home Minister is expected to meet with Border Security Force (BSF) officers managing the 936-km stretch of border in north Bengal, especially amid political unrest in Bangladesh.

As part of his visit, Shah will also inaugurate virtual accommodation facilities for BSF personnel at the Petrapole Integrated Check Post in North 24 Parganas, which is an important trade point between India and Bangladesh.

Local BJP leaders, including West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumder and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, were present during the visit.