RANCHI: Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday, November 12 launched a crackdown against individuals, organisations linked with suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators as part of their ongoing money laundering probe. More than a dozen locations across multiple states have been raided as part of the major crackdown.
According to the preliminary information received, multiple teams of the agency have raided over a dozen locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal. The raids are being carried out on the premises of individuals, organisations allegedly involved in financial activities linked with cross border infiltration.
The case was initially registered at Bariatu police station of Ranchi in connection with alleged Bangladeshi infiltration which was later taken over by the ED. The agency has now launched a major search operation at multiple places as part of the probe.
Raids conducted by the agency are expected to unveil critical information about the broader network suspected to be working on behalf of the infiltrators, facilitating cross border infiltration in Bharatiya territory.
Notably, illegal Bangladeshi infiltration has been a major concern for security agencies and police across multiple states of Bharat, where the infiltrators are suspected to settled in large numbers eventually impacting the demography of the region in long run.
Reports suggests that upon their arrival in Bharat, the infiltrators are allegedly provided with various bogus government documents by their facilitators who further enrol them in voter lists, enabling them to vote in elections.
It is to be noted that multiple Bhartiya states adjacent to the Bangladesh border has been grappling with the continuous infiltration of Bangladeshi for years. It is alleged that after entering the Bhartiya territory illegally the infiltrators either settled in the bordering areas or managed to move to other states/ prominent cities of Bharat.
Illegal infiltration issue in Jharkhand assembly polls
Notably, illegal infiltration of Bangladeshis is one of the key issue in the ongoing election campaign in the state of Jharkhand where the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been continuously accusing the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha led government for keeping a blind eye on illegal infiltration in the state, particularly in Santhal an administrative division of the state adjacent to West Bengal.
The region has witnessed a sharp decline in its tribal population over the years, raising speculation over a change in demography due to large scale cross border infiltration.
Many of the top BJP leaders during the campaign has further promised to carry out a drive to identify and deport the infiltrators if the party secures a majority in the 81 seats assembly.
Voting is scheduled in Jharkhand in two phases on November 13 and 20 while results are set to be announced on November 23. (With input from agencies)
