Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated on Sunday that approximately 4,800 individuals have been deported to Bangladesh, while another 836 are currently housed in holding centers. Speaking at a Bharatiya Janata Party program, he emphasized that border security and illegal infiltration remain top concerns for the state government.
Land Transfer to BSF and Deportation Process
Adhikari detailed the progress of transferring land to the Border Security Force (BSF). "We have initiated the process of handing over land to BSF across a 556-kilometer stretch. So far, land has been transferred over 100 kilometers. Our priority was the Chicken's Neck area in north Bengal," he said.
Regarding deportations, he explained: "We have begun deporting infiltrators who do not fall under the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act. There was a Ministry of Home Affairs directive to hand them directly to the BSF instead of sending them to jail. Previously, infiltrators were treated leniently and sent to jail. Now, holding stations have been established in border districts. From these centers, 4,800 people have been sent across the border, and 836 are currently in holding stations. Arrangements are being made to deport them. This process will continue. It was a priority. The demography of Bengal had changed, as you all know."
Upcoming BSF-BGB Conference
Adhikari's remarks came ahead of the 57th edition of the biannual director general-level border coordination conference between the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), scheduled to be held in New Delhi from June 8 to 11.
Meanwhile, a PTI report from Dhaka indicated that Bangladesh has stated it will raise the issues of alleged "push-ins" by India and border killings during the upcoming meeting between the heads of the two countries' border security forces. Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters: "The situation on the frontier, bilateral cooperation, and particularly the issue of illegal push-ins will be placed with importance by the BGB."
Last month, in response to a Bangladeshi minister's remarks on "push-ins," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "We expect Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification so that repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner."
At the conference starting Monday, the Bangladeshi delegation will be led by BGB chief Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, while the Indian team will be headed by BSF Director General Praveen Kumar.
