A high-level multi-agency meeting was held in Siliguri on Saturday to strengthen the security framework of the crucial Siliguri Corridor, widely known as the “Chicken’s Neck”. The stretch is one of India’s most strategically important zones, serving as the narrow land link between the Northeast and the rest of the country.
Senior officials from the Indian Army, Air Force, CISF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, Military Police, Army Intelligence, RPF, GRP, state police intelligence units, as well as representatives of the National Highways Authority and Asian Highway Authority took part in the discussion.
The meeting gained added significance following the recent car-bomb explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi, which has heightened concerns over potential militant activity. Security agencies have been instructed to maintain maximum vigilance, especially in sensitive border-adjoining areas and key transit points.
Sources present at the meeting said the primary agenda was to intensify surveillance and monitoring across national highways, important road links, major railway stations, over-bridges, and other vulnerable points within the corridor. Although officially described as a routine coordination exercise, recent developments and the upcoming national elections in neighbouring Bangladesh have made the review more urgent.
An official who attended the meeting stated that each security agency presented its own assessment and recommendations. Detailed discussions were held on strengthening monitoring mechanisms across the Chicken’s Neck, including major transport routes and infrastructure considered vital for national security.
Officials confirmed that more such review meetings may be conducted in the coming weeks as part of a continuous effort to ensure robust security in the region.