Reports suggest that a significant number of people coming to Kerala in the recent past as construction workers from other parts of the country are actually suspected to be illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. This is alarming news for Kerala and its people. Since many of them possess fake Aadhaar cards, it is not easy to identify and book them. They enter Kerala pretending to be Indian citizens, which raises serious concerns as this could become a major issue.
Their sphere of employment ranges from the large construction sector to street vegetable vending. As they often come with their families, the presence of women among them is notable. Many are reportedly involved in criminal activities, including working with quotation gangs and engaging in drug trafficking. Migrant labourers from the northern parts of India are commonly referred to as Bhayees in Kerala.
Recently, twenty-seven Bangladeshis were found hiding in the house of Sayyed Mohammed in Mannam, Piravom Taluk, Ernakulam, and were subsequently arrested. They had crossed a shallow river on the India-Bangladesh border and entered West Bengal. Specific agents in West Bengal are responsible for dispatching them to Kerala.
In Kerala, the Ernakulam Rural District Police, in collaboration with the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), has launched Operation Clean to trace, arrest, and deport illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. On January 30, 27 Bangladeshis were arrested as part of this operation. The ATS provided key leads to the Ernakulam Rural Police. Around 100 policemen surrounded Sayyed Mohammed’s rented house, which was leased under the name of Harshad Hussain. The Bangladeshis were working for a local building contractor. So far, the Ernakulam Rural Police has arrested 35 Bangladeshis. Vaibhav Saxena, IPS, Superintendent of Ernakulam Rural Police, confirmed that one of them Thaslima Begum (28) was arrested after mid-January.
Effect of NRC in Assam:
Since the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process began in Assam, many illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators have been moving to Kochi. They exploit Kerala’s welcoming approach towards the ‘guest labour force.’ From Kerala, they often migrate further to Karnataka and Telangana, with Coorg in Karnataka being a preferred destination due to abundant job opportunities in estates and plantations remotely connected with local villages. In Karnataka, they continue to use fake Aadhaar cards since their employment is restricted to Indian citizens.
Agents in Bangladesh are known to provide fake ID proofs for these migrants. Previously, migrant labourers from other states were required to register upon arrival in Kerala. However, due to their overwhelming numbers now, registration is no longer conducted as strictly, making it difficult to trace their addresses after arrests.
Marriages of migrants with locals:
Another concerning trend is the increase in marriages between migrant labourers and Kerala women. Their attraction to Kerala stems from higher wages and a relatively accommodating social environment. According to government records, about 75 migrants have married Kerala women. However, there are reports of unregistered marriages without any legal documentation.
There are growing complaints about Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, which is now perceived as a ‘non-Kerala place’ due to the large migrant population. The general impression is that Perumbavoor is governed by Bhayee’s rules, with drug trafficking and sex work reportedly thriving in the area.
Role of Communists trade unions:
Reports also suggest that CITU, the trade union wing of the CPM, encourages the influx of migrant labour. They believe that migrant workers are indispensable, which allows them to form trade unions for these workers and potentially convert them into a vote bank for the CPM. This is considered a significant reason behind the facilitation of human trafficking from Bengal to Kerala.
Threat to local employment:
Critics argue that the influx of illegal Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators poses a grave threat to Kerala’s local economy, national security, and cultural integrity. These infiltrators, often working for meager wages, undercut local poor workers and their opportunities. While the local workforce faces numerous hardships, illegal migrants benefit from informal mosque-centric Islamic networks and exploitative employers eager to reduce labour costs. This not only deprives Bharat’s citizens of job opportunities but also fosters an underground economy that thrives on illegal labour.
Employers who prioritize profit over legality are complicit in this crisis. In their quest to maximize gains, they prefer hiring illegal infiltrators who accept lower wages without formal contracts or worker rights. Critics argue that this ecosystem of exploitation is not just an economic issue—it is a national threat. The deliberate preference for illegal labour undermines lawful employment systems and creates a breeding ground for crime, trafficking, and anti-national activities.
Failure of Bangladesh as Islamic country:
The situation in Bangladesh itself is telling. Despite being an Islamic country formed after the violent partition from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh has failed to provide basic economic stability and governance for its Muslim citizens. Critics question why, instead of fighting for their rights and better opportunities within their own country, these migrants illegally flood into Bharat. This reflects not just Bangladesh’s failure as a nation-state but also the unwillingness of its people to take responsibility for their own future.
Bangladesh was carved out as a separate entity from Pakistan in 1971, under the pretext of a unique Bengali cultural identity. Prior to that, it was part of Pakistan for 24 years following the partition of Bharat in 1947, with promises of separate Islamic identity and self-governance. Yet, more than five decades after its independence, the reality is stark—Bangladesh remains incapable of sustaining its population, leading to a continuous outflow of migrants who show no pride in their national identity. Instead, they lie, forge documents, and pretend to be Indians to secure jobs and escape poverty.
Critics argue that this is not just a matter of economic migration but a deliberate demographic intrusion. These illegal infiltrators rely on mosque controlled religious networks in India and abraod and political sympathies to settle illegally in various parts of the country. This raises serious concerns about national security, as many of these migrants have been linked to criminal activities, radical terror networks, and anti-national elements.
Furthermore, the fact that Bangladeshis prefer sneaking into Bharat rather than fighting for reforms in their Islamic homeland exposes the hollowness of the very ideology that led to the partition. If Bangladesh, an Islamic country, cannot provide dignity and security to its own people, critics ask why Bharat should bear the burden of their failure. This is not just an immigration issue; it’s a question of Bharat’s sovereignty, security, and the future of its citizens.
