India has set up three new military garrisons close to the Bangladesh border as part of efforts to strengthen defenses around the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, also known as “Chicken’s Neck,” according to intelligence and defense sources in New Delhi.
The garrisons have reportedly been established in Bamuni (Dhubri, Assam), Kishanganj (Bihar), and Chopra (West Bengal), all located near the northern frontier of Bangladesh.
Indian intelligence officials said the initiative is part of a broader military strategy aimed at enhancing surveillance, addressing strategic vulnerabilities, and improving rapid response capabilities along the eastern frontier.
The Siliguri Corridor — a narrow 22-kilometer-wide strip of land in North Bengal — connects mainland India to its seven northeastern states and is bordered by Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China. This makes it one of the most geopolitically sensitive regions in South Asia.
A report by India Today indicated that Indian security planners have grown increasingly cautious about regional shifts following the fall of Sheikh Hasina government.
Analysts in New Delhi are closely monitoring Bangladesh’s renewed diplomatic engagement with China and its attempt to restore ties with Pakistan — developments seen as part of a wider “realignment” of power in South Asia that could influence India’s security calculus around the corridor.
Senior Indian military officials have dismissed suggestions of vulnerability, describing the Siliguri region as “among the most fortified areas in the country.” The newly established garrisons, they said, will strengthen troop mobility, logistics, and intelligence coordination across the sensitive zone.
The XXXIII Corps of the Indian Army, headquartered in Sukna, oversees the defense of the Siliguri Corridor and regularly conducts live-fire and mobility exercises involving T-90 tanks and other advanced military hardware.
Air defense in the area is maintained by Rafale fighter jets stationed at the Hasimara Air Force Base in West Bengal, supported by MiG squadrons and a BrahMos missile regiment with both offensive and defensive capabilities.
The region is also protected by a layered air defense shield comprising Russian-made S-400 systems, Indo-Israeli MRSAM units, and indigenous missile platforms — designed to provide overlapping coverage against aerial or missile threats.
Defense ministry officials said the S-400 deployment is primarily aimed at deterring hostile incursions from the east and northeast, particularly along the Chinese frontier.
The ministry recently approved ₹8,160 crore (about $980 million) to procure two additional regiments of the upgraded Akash missile system, featuring 360-degree coverage and advanced seeker technology for precision interception.
