Upon his arrival in Tripura on December 20, Shah inaugurated the newly-constructed residential complex for border security personnel at the Agartala Integrated Check Post. The event, took place virtually from Siliguri in West Bengal, as the home minister participated in the 61st Raising Day celebrations of the Sashastra Seema Bal.
The residential facility, spanning 8,093 square feet, has been designed to house Border Security Force personnel and Customs officials stationed at the Agartala Integrated Check Post. The four-storey building will accommodate 128 jawans, with separate sections for officers. The quarters aim to provide comfortable living spaces for the personnel tasked with securing the international borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
Present at the ceremony were Col GS Sandhu, project director of the Land Ports Authority of India; AK Sharma, BSF inspector general for Tripura Frontier; Debasish Nandi, Agartala ICP manager; and senior immigration officer Leena Prasad.
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Later, Shah opened the 72nd NEC plenary session at Prajna Bhavan. The event was attended by Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with governors and chief ministers from the eight northeastern states. “We will have intense discussions on the future roadmap for the region and review the council’s progress for this year,” said Scindia.
The NEC, which is responsible for ensuring economic and social development of the northeastern states, will focus on shaping future strategies for the region. A delegation from the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) participated in the discussions.
Shah’s visit to Tripura sparked some protests due to his remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar at the Parliament’s Winter session. Shah was welcomed by state leaders, including Chief Minister Manik Saha, BJP MP Biplab Kumar Deb, and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharya, at the Maharaja Bir Bikram airport. Following his arrival, Shah held meetings with key BJP leaders and alliance partners in Tripura, including TIPRA Motha and the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura.
Earlier, Shah said, “The Sashastra Seema Bal has effectively curtailed narcotics trafficking, human smuggling, and other anti-national activities, especially when borders are open.”
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In addition to some official engagements, Shah will lay the foundation stone for the new BJP state headquarters on December 23. The four-storey building will feature modern amenities, including an auditorium and meeting halls, to enhance the party’s organisational capabilities in Tripura.
