Seven Bangladeshis sent to holding centre in Bengal
Kolkata, May 26
Seven Bangladeshis, who were caught trying to enter West Bengal through the Murshidabad border, were sent to a newly created 'holding centre' in Lalgola of Murshidabad district on Tuesday.
Police arrested the seven Bangladeshis on Monday night. Within 24 hours, all seven were sent to the newly created 'holding centre'.
According to a senior police officer of Murshidabad Police District, a few people tried to enter India by crossing the border under the cover of darkness on Monday night.
The seven were caught by officers of the Jalangi police station.
The 'holding centre' was inaugurated in Lalgola on Monday after the announcement made by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Three people arrested on charges of infiltration were kept there earlier.
After the seven people were sent there on Tuesday, the number of detainees in the Lalgola 'holding centre' rose to 10.
According to district administration sources, the process of 'push back' to Bangladesh is being initiated quickly on the state government's instructions.
On Monday night, police conducted a special operation in the Bidupur area under the Jalangi police station.
The administration was alerted after receiving information that a group of infiltrators was trying to enter the Indian mainland by crossing the border.
After questioning the seven arrested persons, police found that all were residents of the Daulatpur police station area in Kushtia district, Bangladesh.
The names of the arrested persons have been withheld for the sake of the investigation.
During the initial interrogation, the arrested persons told police that they had entered India in search of work.
They had entered West Bengal through the Sarkarpara border in Jalangi with the help of a broker, avoiding the Border Security Force (BSF).
They were caught by the police at that time.
Police said that after the administration's strong message on the infiltration issue, surveillance and arrests have increased in West Bengal's border areas.
Last week, the West Bengal government ordered the creation of 'holding centres' in each district to keep those arrested on suspicion of being Bangladeshi or Rohingya.
Suspects can be detained in these 'holding centres' for 30 days.
The state government has said that not only those arrested on suspicion of being infiltrators, but also those who were previously caught and imprisoned, and those in the process of being sent out of the country, can be kept there.
The arrested persons will be directly handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF).
The BSF will work to send them back to their respective countries.
— IANS
Reader Comments
While I understand the security concerns, these are poor people desperate for livelihood. 😔 Our government should work with Bangladesh on economic cooperation rather than just pushing them back. Maybe create legal pathways for seasonal workers? But of course national security comes first.
Finally some action! For years we have seen infiltration from Bangladesh unchecked. 30-day holding centers are a good start but we need biometric tracking and faster deportation. The BSF should be more vigilant - these people crossed the border at night avoiding them. What were they doing? 🤔
Sad to see that people have to risk their lives crossing borders illegally just to find work. But India cannot be responsible for Bangladesh's economic problems. At least they are being treated humanely in these holding centers unlike some countries. Hope they are given food and medical care during their stay.
The question is - how many actually get caught vs how many slip through? This is just the tip of the iceberg. Need better border fencing, night vision surveillance, and stricter action against brokers who facilitate this. Also, why is the state government setting up these centers without central coordination? Duplication of efforts.
As a resident of border area, I can tell you this happens almost every night. 😞 These people come through brokers who charge them thousands of taka. The poor souls end up in labor camps. The government should look at the root causes - poverty and lack of opportunities in Bangladesh. Holding centers are just a temporary solution.
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