India Considers Using Snakes and Crocodiles for Border Security

Border Security India Bangladesh BSF Illegal Migration

May 1, 20264 min readSouth Asia

India Considers Using Snakes and Crocodiles for Border Security

BSF explores reptiles as natural deterrents along Bangladesh border

{"results": [{"url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/explore-use-of-snakes-and-crocodiles-in-border-rivers-bsf-tells-units/article70826999.ece", "title": "Explore use of snakes and crocodiles in border rivers, BSF tells units - The Hindu", "author": "Vijaita Singh", "summary": "Summary:\n- The Hindu reports that BSF field units were directed to explore using reptiles\u2014specifically snakes and crocodiles\u2014as a possible natural deterrent in riverine stretches along India's Bangladesh border to curb infiltration and illegal activity.\n- The March 26 internal BSF communication states the initiative aligns with Home Minister Amit Shah\u2019s directions and asks for an operational feasibility assessment, including procurement and potential impact on nearby border populations.\n- No implementation has taken place yet; officials note challenges such as ethics, logistics, ecological impact, and risks to villagers during floods.\n- The measure targets hard-to-fence border sections (riverine and flood-prone areas) where fencing is difficult, though it raises safety and humanitarian concerns for local communities.\n- The broader border context: a significant portion of the India-Bangladesh border is already fenced or planned for fencing, with riverine terrains remaining problematic for security and migration control."}, {"url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/india-mulls-reptile-river-guards-on-bangladesh-border", "title": "India mulls over reptile river guards on Bangladesh border | The Straits Times", "summary": "Summary:\nIndia\u2019s Border Security Force said it is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along the Bangladesh border to deter unauthorized river crossings. The plan, discussed with the Home Ministry in February, targets vulnerable unfenced riverine gaps in flood-prone areas along the 4,000+ km frontier that passes through the Sundarbans. Officials stress feasibility questions, procurement challenges, and potential safety impacts on nearby villages. The proposal arrives amid tense India\u2013Bangladesh relations following Bangladesh\u2019s 2024 uprising and New Delhi\u2019s hardline stance on immigration. The border already features fencing in many stretches, and authorities have previously arrested many Bangladeshis attempting to cross."}, {"url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-flags-denial-and-delay-by-bangladesh-in-accepting-undocumented-migrants/article69984814.ece", "title": "India flags \u2018denial and delay\u2019 by Bangladesh in accepting undocumented migrants - The Hindu", "author": "Vijaita Singh", "summary": "Summary:\n\n- The Hindu reports on ongoing tensions at the India-Bangladesh border, where the Border Security Force (BSF) accuses Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) of denial and delay in handling apprehended undocumented Bangladeshi entrants.\n- At the three-day DG-level conference in Dhaka (Aug 25-28, 2025), the BSF pressed for building a single-row fence along the border to deter cross-border crime and illegal crossings, a move opposed by the BGB after political changes in Bangladesh in Aug 2024.\n- The BSF claims pushbacks and exfiltration incidents, while the BGB says it is warning border populations and that no concrete fencing steps have been taken yet.\n- The conference also covered concerns about preventing trans-border crimes, actions against Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) in Bangladesh, border infrastructure, and misinterpretations by Bangladeshi media.\n- Background context includes a spike in undocumented migrants leaving India for Bangladesh via the eastern border in 2025 (3,536 apprehensions by July 15, 2025, up from 1,049 in 2024) and Indian authorities\u2019 use of pushback-like procedures post-Apr 22 Pahalgam terror attack, though the Indian government has not formally acknowledged pushbacks.\n- The BSF DG stressed that those found at the border are handed over to the BGB, with authorities citing ongoing \u201cexfiltration\u201d and border-area dynamics as drivers of the dispute."}, {"url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/number-of-undocumented-migrants-voluntarily-leaving-india-across-border-with-bangladesh-tripled-in-2025-compared-to-2024-government-data-show/article69929287.ece", "title": "Undocumented migrants leaving via eastern border tripled in 2025 compared to 2024, government data show - The Hindu", "author": "Vijaita Singh", "summary": "Summary:\n\n- The Hindu reports that in 2025, the number of undocumented migrants leaving India via the eastern border (likely Bangladesh) more than tripled compared with 2024. Specifically, 3,536 undocumented individuals were apprehended by the BSF while attempting to leave India through eastern borders up to July 15, 2025, versus 1,049 in all of 2024. In contrast, apprehensions of people trying to enter from Bangladesh stood at 1,372 up to July 15, 2025, down from 2,425 in 2024.\n\n- The article cites a senior government official and provides figures split by \u201cleaving\u201d movements (voluntary departures) and \u201centering\u201d movements (attempted crossings), indicating a notable rise in people attempting to exit India via the eastern border in 2025.\n\n- Context in the piece centers on border security dynamics with Bangladesh, including the possibility of increased cross-border movement and the government\u2019s data on apprehensions.\n\n- The article does not report on specific policy responses, deterrent measures, or statements about proposed natural deterrents, crocodile/snakes riverine considerations, or 2026 border-control plans.\n\nIf you\u2019re specifically looking for information related to Al Jazeera\u2019s coverage of India-Bangladesh border deterrents (e.g., riverine stretches, natural deterrents, crossings, or 2026 plans), this article provides the official 2024\u20132025 data from the BSF but does not discuss those deterrent strategies. For that, you may want to search Al Jazeera\u2019s reporting on border infrastructure, riverine barriers, or wildlife-based deterrents along the India-Bangladesh border."}, {"url": "https://straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/indian-states-decision-to-allow-arms-for-indigenous-peoples-stokes-fears-of-worsening-violence", "title": "Move by India\u2019s Assam state to allow arms for \u2018indigenous\u2019 people stirs fears of worsening violence", "author": "Debarshi Dasgupta", "summary": "Summary:\n- The Assam government announced a plan to create a portal granting arms licences to \u201coriginal inhabitants\u201d and \u201cindigenous\u201d people in sensitive areas, ahead of the 2026 state elections.\n- The policy is framed as a security measure to counter \u201cunlawful threats\u201d allegedly linked to illegal migration from neighboring Bangladesh, but critics warn it could target Bengali Muslims and worsen violence.\n- The move risks amplifying ethnic and religious tensions in a state already scarred by past violence, hate speech, and forced displacements, potentially undermining Assam\u2019s stability within India\u2019s broader regional ambitions (Act East).\n- Context: Assam shares a long, porous border with Bangladesh and has a history of migrations and demographic shifts affecting local livelihoods and cultural identity; the policy could set a precedent affecting rights and social order in the region."}]}

Originally published by Al Jazeera.

Sources (11)

Explore use of snakes and crocodiles in border rivers, BSF tells units - The Hindu

thehindu.com

India mulls over reptile river guards on Bangladesh border | The Straits Times

straitstimes.com

BSF explores using snakes, crocodiles to stop infiltration along border - The Hindu

thehindu.com

India flags ‘denial and delay’ by Bangladesh in accepting undocumented migrants - The Hindu

thehindu.com

BSF foils Bangladeshi nationals’ bid to enter India

thehindu.com

Undocumented migrants leaving via eastern border tripled in 2025 compared to 2024, government data show - The Hindu

thehindu.com

Proposal for new design of border fencing under consideration of Centre: BSF IG - The Hindu

thehindu.com

India to withdraw diplomats' families from Bangladesh, source says | The Straits Times

straitstimes.com

India ‘pushing back’ Bangladeshis held without documents - The Hindu

thehindu.com

High Court slams Bengal government for delay in handing over land to BSF for fencing India-Bangladesh border - The Hindu

thehindu.com

Move by India’s Assam state to allow arms for ‘indigenous’ people stirs fears of worsening violence

straitstimes.com

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