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Bhuj, Nov 6 (IANS) A team of 30 senior IPS officers led by Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Shanghvi will visit various villages along the India-Pakistan border in Kutch on Thursday to take a detailed review of the security and developmental scenario of the area.
According to official sources, the purpose of the visit is to assess the ground reality and promote direct contact with the villagers living near the border.
The delegation’s program includes meetings with sarpanches, local people, women and youth, focusing on key areas such as health, education, infrastructure, sanitation and security.
State HM Sanghvi, who reached Bhuj Circuit House early in the day, will hold several review sessions before moving to the border villages.
The team will also hold nightly “Khatla” meetings, informal interactions with villagers to understand their everyday concerns and gather feedback on government initiatives. A special meeting has been held with BSF officials to discuss border security, anti-national activities and patrolling operations.
He will also hold open talks with BSF personnel deployed on the border to assess the challenges on the ground.
In a unique initiative, the Deputy CM and senior officials will spend the night in local Bhungas (traditional mud houses) instead of government guest houses, symbolizing solidarity with the villagers and a commitment to understand their lifestyle and hardships first-hand.
Border security in Gujarat is important as the state shares a 508-km long and sensitive international border with Pakistan spanning Kutch district and coastal areas. The region includes desert terrain, wetlands such as the Rann of Kutch and a vast coastline, making it vulnerable to infiltration, smuggling and illegal cross-border activities.
Gujarat’s strategic location makes it a major hub for defense establishments, ports and energy infrastructure that require constant security.
Ensuring strong border security not only protects national sovereignty but also helps maintain peace, prevent terrorism and espionage, and protect the livelihoods of people living in border villages who serve as the country’s first line of defense.
–IANS
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