“It is difficult to make a realistic estimate of the number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh because they enter surreptitiously and are able to mingle easily with the local population due to ethnic and linguistic similarities. The demographic composition in the districts bordering Bangladesh has altered with the illegal immigration from Bangladesh. The districts of Assam and West Bengal bordering Bangladesh have recorded growth of population higher than the national average. The States of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura have also recorded high rates of population growth. Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have also been using West Bengal as a corridor to migrate to other parts of the country” – Supreme Court of Bharat, in Sarbananda Sonowal vs Union of India & Anr case on July 12, 2005
The issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh has once again come to the forefront with the recent busting of a massive illegal immigration racket by the Delhi Police. This urgent situation demands our immediate attention. The police crackdown led to the arrest of four individuals, including two Bangladeshi nationals who had entered Bharat without any passport or visa. The accused and their facilitators had been aiding numerous Bangladeshis to illegally enter and stay in Bharat by creating forged documents. The recent drive by the Delhi administration is a significant step towards detecting and deporting illegals. However, this crucial move is being overshadowed by a political crossfire and blame game. The issue of Bangladeshi illegal migration is a pressing menace for Bharat, which requires collective and immediate attention.
Since the unfortunate Partition of Bharat, the eastern border has been in a state of flux without much attention. Before and after the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971, we have seen waves of people migrating to Bharat. As the Supreme Court had observed in the Sarbananda Sonowal case, this illegal influx of people has drastically altered the demography in the bordering areas of West Bengal and Assam. The dominance of illegals has left the locals at their mercy, significantly impacting their rights, culture, and even democratic representation. The increased radicalism and other criminal activities in the region are also a direct result of the change in demography. The fake currency rackets and human trafficking, especially of women and children, are other evils that these racketeers facilitate. The Union Government has taken steps to strengthen the Border Security Force and its jurisdiction and expedite the border fencing. The Assam Government has taken initiatives to identify the illegal migrants and evacuate illegally occupied forest land from them. However, the illegal rackets operate in West Bengal and North Eastern States with tacit political support. Their links to the national capital region should be a cause of concern.
Immigration for better economic opportunities, as justified by human rights activists and some political parties, is not a problem. Illegal migration without proper documentation or visa is a problematic thing. How do they get instant documents, mobile connection and voter ID cards? How do Bangladeshis and Rohingyas reach Muslim-dominated areas of the Jammu region, Hyderabad and now the Okhla area of Delhi? We have seen the havoc these elements created when the Citizenship Amendment Act was introduced. When the situation in Bangladesh is volatile and the Pakistan military, with the support of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, virtually takes over the system, we should be all the more careful about this trend. Historically, Pakistan’s ISI has used this route to harbour terrorism and militancy in Bharat.
The Delhi police made a significant breakthrough and identified the trafficking ‘Donkey Route’ – commonly known as the porous border of Meghalaya. The Supreme Court has been monitoring the actions on illegal migration and has already approved the policy of ‘detect, detain and deport’. The Home Ministry is serious about stopping this menace. However, we must remember that this is not just a Government issue, but a societal one. We should treat the illegal migration of Bangladeshis as a national security issue that requires a collective response. All governmental and societal actors should stay vigilant and contribute to dealing with this menace with a multi-dimensional response.
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