Gandhinagar: In a major field-level security and governance initiative, the Gujarat government has deputed eight senior IPS officers to conduct a two-day review of 16 border villages across the state’s sensitive frontier regions on June 11 and 12.
The exercise, being coordinated under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, aims to provide senior police leadership with a first-hand understanding of security concerns, administrative challenges and developmental needs in villages situated near the international border.
Unlike routine inspections, the officers will stay in local homes, interact directly with residents and conduct extensive field assessments to gain a realistic picture of conditions on the ground.
Focus on Sensitive Border Areas
The selected villages are located in the border regions of Vav-Tharad, Patan, and Kutch, areas that have historically remained sensitive due to concerns related to infiltration, smuggling and cross-border activities.
Officials said the initiative seeks to strengthen coordination between local communities and security agencies while identifying gaps in policing, infrastructure and public service delivery.
The exercise is expected to provide valuable inputs for future border management and security planning.
Senior IPS Officers Assigned Villages
The review team comprises Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs), Inspectors General (IGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) and one Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
Vav-Tharad Sector
- Wabang Jamir (ADGP) will visit Sargam and Rachhena.
- A M Muniya (DIG) will inspect Radosan and Golap.
Patan Sector
- Bipin Ahire (IG) will review Dhokawada and Charanka.
Kutch (East)
- Ajay Kumar Chaudhary (ADGP) will visit Shiranivandh and Jatawada.
Kutch (West)
- K N Damor (IPS officer”] (DIG) will assess Juna and Dedhiya.
- Leena Patil (DIG) will inspect Udhamo and Patagar.
- R T Susra (ACP) will cover Purajpur and Gunau.
- Sudha Pandey (DIG) will stay in Dinara and Bhitara-Mota.
Security Review Beyond Traditional Inspections
Officials described the exercise as an intensive border-security and rural-governance review rather than a conventional inspection.
During their stay, the officers will:
- Inspect border outposts and security infrastructure.
- Monitor night patrolling operations.
- Review the functioning of local police stations.
- Interact directly with villagers.
- Assess availability of essential public services.
- Identify challenges related to law and order, infrastructure and administration.
- Gather feedback from residents living near the international border.
The objective is to bridge the gap between policymaking and ground realities by enabling senior officers to directly experience local conditions.
Lessons from Last Year’s Border Outreach
The initiative follows a similar exercise undertaken in November last year, when Harsh Sanghavi led a team of senior IPS officers to border villages in Kutch and Banaskantha districts.
That exercise reportedly led to faster execution of development projects and improved coordination among the police, the Border Security Force, and district administrations.
Officials noted that the earlier review helped identify infrastructure gaps and administrative challenges that were subsequently addressed through targeted interventions.
Findings to Shape Future Border Management Strategy
The Gujarat government views the latest initiative as an important component of its border management framework.
Several of the villages selected for the review are located only a few metres from the international border, making them strategically significant from both security and governance perspectives.
According to officials, observations gathered during the two-day exercise will be compiled and used by the Home Department to formulate border security priorities and administrative strategies for the coming year.
The government believes that regular engagement by senior officers with border communities can strengthen public confidence, improve intelligence gathering and enhance preparedness against emerging security challenges.
Strengthening State Presence in Border Communities
Beyond security considerations, the exercise is intended to reinforce the government’s commitment to residents living in remote frontier areas.
By staying in villages, interacting with families and reviewing local conditions firsthand, senior IPS officers are expected to gain a deeper understanding of the everyday challenges faced by border populations.
Officials said the initiative reflects a broader approach that combines security preparedness with community engagement, development monitoring and responsive governance.
