Kolkata: Political activity has intensified in West Bengal over the issue of illegal immigration and border security. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has made it clear that securing international borders and ensuring the state’s security is the current government’s top priority. During a recent key Bharatiya Janata Party meeting, he emphasized that tough decisions are being taken to completely stop infiltration, addressing shortcomings in existing systems and strengthening the security perimeter to make it stronger and more impenetrable.
The Chief Minister informed that 4,800 illegal immigrants have been deported to Bangladesh from holding centers in border districts. Furthermore, the process of deporting the remaining 836 people to their country has reached its final stages. The vigilance and strictness of security forces at the Hakimpur border has resulted in many infiltrators returning on their own, fearing arrest. The government’s policy is clear: instead of unnecessarily detaining those who do not fall under the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), they are being handed over directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) for deportation.
The state government is taking swift steps to fully secure the 2,217-kilometer border between India and Bangladesh, which borders West Bengal. Of the 556 kilometers of land required for barbed wire fencing, 100 kilometers has been officially handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF). Additionally, security in the highly sensitive and strategically important “Chicken’s Neck” region, connecting the country’s northeastern states with the rest of India, has been significantly strengthened to address any potential threats.
A special door-to-door survey campaign will be conducted between August 1st and August 15th to accurately identify illegal immigrants living within the state. The Chief Minister accused the previous Trinamool Congress government of deliberately withholding the census and stated that the work has now begun in earnest. According to the plan, the census process will be completed by February next year, and all assembly constituencies in the state will be redrawn immediately thereafter.
