4,800 illegal immigrants sent back to Bangladesh, 836 more await repatriation: Suvendu

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that approximately 4,800 alleged illegal immigrants have already been sent back to Bangladesh from holding centres in the state's border districts. Another 836 individuals are currently awaiting repatriation.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting for a BJP special training camp on Sunday, June 7, Adhikari did not provide details on when, through which border points or how these individuals were repatriated. Neither the central nor state government has provided an official explanation regarding the method of identifying these individuals as illegal immigrants.

Adhikari stated that curbing illegal infiltration and securing the India-Bangladesh border are among his government's top priorities. He noted that fencing remains incomplete along 556 kilometres of the border, with land for approximately 100 kilometres already handed over to the BSF. The Chicken's Neck corridor in North Bengal has been given priority.

Those who do not fall under the Citizenship Amendment Act are being handed over directly to the BSF according to central government rules. Adhikari alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government took no action on this matter, allowing illegal immigrants to stay for long periods at various centres at government expense.

Meanwhile, on Monday night, the BSF took back 10 women, men and children who had been stranded for about 70 hours after a push-in attempt at the Borbari border in Panchagarh. They were repatriated from Indian territory after communication with the BGB. Local sources said the border floodlights were turned off for some time during the process.