Residents of West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district have voluntarily donated parts of their land for the construction of fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, citing years of concern over infiltration, smuggling and insecurity in villages located close to the frontier.

The initiative comes at a time when the newly elected BJP government in the state has intensified efforts to strengthen border infrastructure and improve coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF). Villagers supporting the project said they believe proper fencing will help curb illegal crossings and protect both farmland and local communities.

One of the donors, Bikash Rai, said the land was offered in the interest of national security and the welfare of the village. He explained that residents had long faced problems because sections of the border remained unfenced, allowing unauthorised movement from across the border during the night.

According to Rai, his family contributed nearly 0.2 acres of land for the fencing project. He said incidents such as cattle theft, smuggling and trespassing had become common in the area over the years due to weak border protection.

Rai added that although compensation for the land has not yet been received, government officials have already completed surveys and assured residents that payments will be processed soon.

The state government recently announced a large-scale plan to transfer land to the BSF for border infrastructure. As part of the initiative, more than 140 acres have already been handed over, while authorities aim to provide around 600 acres for fencing work and security outposts within a short period.

Residents living in border areas have welcomed the move, saying it could finally address long-standing security concerns that affected daily life in the region.

Hriday Barman, a relative of one of the donors, urged the administration to complete the fencing work quickly. He said the absence of proper barriers had allowed illegal activities to flourish for years, creating fear among villagers and causing repeated losses for farmers.

Barman noted that stronger border protection would improve safety for both residents and agricultural workers living near the frontier. He also said villagers hoped the project would reduce cross-border crimes and make the area more stable in the future.

The renewed push for fencing follows a broader policy shift by the Bengal government after taking office earlier this month. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly stressed the need for tighter border security and faster development of BSF infrastructure across vulnerable stretches of the international border.

Officials said the government is working closely with security agencies to speed up land transfers and remove hurdles delaying fencing projects in sensitive areas.

For many villagers in Cooch Behar, the decision to donate land reflects growing public support for stronger border controls, especially in areas where residents say they have experienced the impact of illegal crossings and smuggling networks for years.