The Indian Army has established three new military outposts along the Bangladesh border to strengthen security around the strategic Siliguri Corridor, also known as the Chicken’s Neck – the narrow stretch connecting mainland India with the northeastern states.
According to reports, the new military installations have been set up at Bamuni near Dhubri in Assam, Kishanganj in Bihar, and Chopra in West Bengal. The move is part of India’s broader effort to bolster defences in the eastern sector and ensure a rapid military response in the event of any threat to the corridor.
Lachit Borphukan Military Station in Assam
On Thursday, Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General R.C. Tiwari laid the foundation stone for the Lachit Borphukan Military Station in Assam’s Dhubri district, marking the first major Army base near the Bangladesh border in the state. The station is being established at Bamuni Part 1 and Part 2 villages on government-owned land previously occupied by illegal encroachers. The encroachments were removed as part of an ongoing eviction drive by the Assam government.
The new base will come under the jurisdiction of the Tezpur-based GOC 4 Corps. Defence PRO Lt Col M. Rawat said the creation of the station represents “a significant step in further strengthening the operational capabilities and infrastructure of the Indian Army in the region.”
The establishment of the base was initially proposed by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, following communal tensions in Dhubri during Eid earlier this year.
Lt Gen Tiwari thanked the Assam Government and the Civil Administration for their assistance in speeding up the project’s implementation and commended all ranks of the Gajraj Corps for their efforts in making the base operational at the earliest.
New Camps in Kishanganj and Chopra
In addition to the Dhubri base, the Army has set up new facilities at Kishanganj and Chopra, both located near the Bangladesh border and within the Siliguri Corridor. These have been established under a “minimal timeframe” objective to enhance India’s immediate operational readiness.
The Chopra Defence Land in North Bengal lies less than a kilometre from Tetulia in Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district, under the Rangpur division. This facility will operate under the Brahmastra Corps.
The foundation stone for the Kishanganj Military Camp was also laid recently by Lt Gen R.C. Tiwari. In social media posts, the Eastern Command said the Commander visited both the Kishanganj and Chopra military camps to review operational preparedness and ongoing infrastructure development.
Strategic Context
Officials said the step comes amid changing geopolitical dynamics in the region. India’s security agencies are closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh, where the new interim leadership under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has reportedly increased engagement with Pakistan and China. Reports of Yunus’s meeting with Pakistan’s military leadership have drawn attention from Indian intelligence and defence circles.
To counter potential risks from the eastern front, the Indian Army has moved swiftly to fortify its defences in and around the Chicken’s Neck corridor, which is only 22 kilometres wide at its narrowest point.
The newly established military outposts are expected to improve surveillance, inter-force coordination, and ground mobility across the corridor. Officials said the deployments will ensure that “every move of the enemy will be foiled at the Chicken’s Neck”, adding that the new infrastructure adds another layer of strength to India’s border management.
Existing Defence Infrastructure
The Tri-Shakti Corps, responsible for guarding the Siliguri Corridor, is already deployed in the region along with advanced military assets, including Rafale fighter jets, BrahMos missile systems, and air defence units such as S-400 and Akash systems. Together, these form a comprehensive security shield over the eastern corridor.
Senior Army officials have reiterated that the Chicken’s Neck is not a weak point, but rather one of India’s strongest links, capable of mobilising coordinated forces from West Bengal, Sikkim, and the Northeast whenever required.
(Source: OpIndia)
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