Indian officials have proposed a controversial plan to release crocodiles and venomous snakes along riverine stretches of the India-Bangladesh border. The initiative aims to use these animals as natural deterrents in areas where fencing is difficult, to curb illegal migration and smuggling. A March 26 internal notice instructed Border Security Force (BSF) units to assess the feasibility of deploying reptiles in risky river gaps across eastern and northeastern sectors.

The 4,096-kilometer border includes challenging terrain where fencing is incomplete. Human rights activists and wildlife conservationists have expressed alarm over the plan’s potential humanitarian and ecological consequences. Analysts such as Anshuman Choudhury described the idea as cruel and irrational, arguing that animals cannot distinguish between nationals and migrants and warning of a new form of biopolitical violence. Wildlife expert Rathin Barman cautioned that crocodiles are not native to most border regions and would likely die quickly, disrupting local ecosystems.

Observers linked the move to India’s broader immigration policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which critics say target undocumented migrants and religious minorities. The plan has raised ethical and environmental concerns on both sides of the border.