10,000 ‘illegal’ immigrants sent back to Bangladesh

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said that around 10,000 “illegal” immigrants have so far been sent back to Bangladesh from the Indian state by the Border Security Force.

Speaking in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Adhikari said about 1,800 more people are still being kept in 12 holding centres across the state.

He sought to assure what he described as “genuine citizens” of India that they had no reason to worry, regardless of their religion, community or political affiliation.

Adhikari said action would continue against those staying in West Bengal illegally.

He also said barbed-wire fencing along 600 kilometres of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal would be completed within the next six months, adding that national safety and security remained the government’s priority.

“The illegal immigrants will be pushed back to Bangladesh. We will not send them to jail and provide them with free food and medicine.

Instead, that money will be used for welfare schemes,” he said.

According to Adhikari, many Bangladeshi immigrants have already left India and returned through the Hakimpur border.

He added that 142.79 acres of land had so far been handed over to the BSF for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.

The BJP government in West Bengal has intensified its drive against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh since assuming office in May.