India Considers Using Snakes and Crocodiles for Bangladesh Border Control

India is exploring the deployment of crocodiles and venomous snakes as a biological barrier along its riverine border with Bangladesh. The measure is being considered as an alternative to physical fencing in areas where the terrain makes construction impractical.

The proposal is being assessed by the Border Security Force (BSF), the agency responsible for guarding India’s borders. According to an internal official memo dated March 26, 2026, BSF headquarters requested that field units along the Bangladesh border evaluate the use of these reptiles as an operational measure in specific zones.

Border Logistics and Terrain Challenges

The total length of the border between India and Bangladesh is 4,096 kilometers. While the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allocated significant resources to fence this frontier, approximately 20 per cent of the border remains largely open.

Of the 850 kilometers that currently lack fencing, approximately 175 kilometers have been identified as unsuitable for physical barriers. These areas are characterized by marshy terrain and a high risk of flooding, which complicates the installation and maintenance of traditional fences.

The BSF is investigating whether venomous snakes and crocodiles can serve as natural deterrents in these specific riverine and marshy environments to prevent unauthorized crossings.

Government Directives and Regional Scope

The internal BSF memo indicated that the exploration of using reptiles as a border deterrent is in line with home minister Amit Shah’s directions. Amit Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Modi, has led the government’s efforts to crack down on immigration in the eastern states of India.

The gaps in the border fence where these biological measures are being considered are primarily located in five Indian states:

• West Bengal
• Assam
• Meghalaya
• Tripura
• Mizoram

In these regions, migration across the border from Bangladesh has become a significant political flashpoint.

Human Rights and Political Context

The consideration of biological barriers occurs amid a broader political climate regarding immigration from Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Human rights organizations have expressed concerns regarding the populist rhetoric used by the ruling party against immigrants in India’s eastern states.

These organizations have warned that minority communities within the region have been caught in the crossfire of the political disputes surrounding border security and migration.