India imposes night curfew along Meghalaya border
Authorities in India’s northeastern state of Meghalaya have imposed a night curfew along parts of the India–Bangladesh border in East Khasi Hills.
The order, issued by District Magistrate Rosetta Mary Kurbah, took effect on 25 November 2025 and will remain in force for two months unless withdrawn earlier.
The directive cites specific stretches of the border as highly “porous and susceptible to infiltration,” warning that the areas are vulnerable to crossings by militants, smugglers and other groups involved in organized crime linked to “anti-national activities.” Officials say the curfew aims to restore stronger oversight along the sensitive frontier.
Under the restrictions, movement is banned between 8 pm and 6 am within one kilometre of the Zero Line. The order also prohibits unauthorized gatherings of five or more people, processions, and the carrying of sticks, rods, stones and other objects that could be used as weapons. Authorities say the rules are being enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The curfew specifically targets attempts to cross into Bangladesh or enter India illegally, and it seeks to curb a range of activities considered routine in border smuggling networks. These include the trafficking of cattle, betel nut, betel leaves, cigarettes, dry fish, contraband goods and other items that frequently fuel cross-border black markets. Meghalaya’s betel nut trade, long intertwined with criminal networks, has been a key concern for local law enforcement.
Indian authorities say they have stepped up patrols and surveillance in the region, particularly along unofficial routes used by smugglers at night. Residents on the Bangladeshi side of the border, many of whom maintain regular trade and family ties with communities in Meghalaya, are expected to experience heightened security and stricter checks.
The East Khasi Hills district administration said the curfew was introduced as a preventive measure following intelligence reports suggesting increased attempts at infiltration ahead of the year-end period. Security agencies in both countries have been monitoring a rise in smuggling activities, partly driven by fluctuations in commodity prices across the border.
Officials in Meghalaya noted that the curfew may be revised depending on the security situation, but emphasized that preventing illegal crossings and safeguarding border communities remains a top priority.
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