KISHANGANJ, April 22 -- Top Bihar government officials, including the chief secretary (CS) and director general of police (DGP), and Seema Sashastra Bal (SSB) officers, held a meeting in Kishanganj district on Tuesday to discuss border security and the Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) which focuses on developing India's border areas. This meeting is key ahead of CS Pratyaya Amrit's meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on May 2 in New Delhi. The officials discussed issues related to border security, illegal activities on the border and inter-departmental coordination to ensure smooth development in villages along the border areas. They also addressed concerns regarding illegal infiltration, cross-border smuggling, and the illegal use of land near the border areas. Besides CS Amrit and DGP Vinay Kumar, ACS (home) Arbind Choudhary, DG Kundan Krishnan, and the DMs and SPs of Kishanganj and Araria participated in the meeting, which was the first since BJP's Samrat Choudhary took charge as Bihar chief minister. The high-level meeting is important against the backdrop of the government's campaign against corruption. Recently, two police personnel in Kishanganj were allegedly found with links to several active cross-border mafia networks. According to the report, 22 border villages in Kishanganj are being developed under VVP-II involving Rs.112 crores for 218 projects including all-weather roads, internet connectivity, education and health facilities. Specific projects include Yoga centres, digital libraries, CCTV, cold storage and special hospitals to prevent border-related crimes and boost local livelihoods. The targeted villages span districts including Araria (12), Madhubani (36), Sitamarhi (9), West Champaran (31), East Champaran (12), Supaul (30) and Kishanganj (22). The Bihar government is implementing a Rs.700 crore plan to upgrade infrastructure in 152 villages along the Bihar-Nepal border....