In what shows that the Modi government’s strict stance against illegal immigration has started giving desired results, newspaper reports from Bangladesh have brought to light that at least 200 people have crossed over into Bangladesh from India and have been arrested in areas bordering the Indian state of West Bengal. Many of these illegal immigrants who were living in India and have now crossed over into Bangladesh are believed to be from the Bengaluru city.
It is important to mention here that recently the Bengaluru Police had cracked down on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in the city. Two camps were raided and a total of 60 people were arrested. Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Bhaskar Rao has also warned against providing shelter and employment to the illegal immigrants. As per the Indian Express, many of the suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have started migrating the city following the recent crackdown. On Saturday, more than 55 Bangladeshi illegal immigrants were brought to Howrah Railway Station in Kolkata from the Karnataka Capital, for deportation. Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) S D Sharanappa, who has been charged with the deportation of illegal immigrants, said, “They have been escorted by 30 policemen. We have spoken to the West Bengal Police, the BSF, and are coordinating with the Karnataka Home Department and Union Home Ministry.”
According to the Indian Express, a police officer has said that the batch was “the first that was issued leave India notice for deportation”. The said notice is issued only after the Union Home Ministry confirms that a person is not Indian. A Bengaluru police official has said that since the crackdown begun, “almost half the illegal immigrants had left”. He added, “We do not know the exact numbers.”
As per Dhaka Tribune, a leading Bangladeshi media outlet, more than 200 people have been detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) over the last 15 days, after they crossed over from India through Moheshpur in Jhenaidah. Daily Star, Bangladesh’s largest English daily, has pegged the number of arrests at 329. The Bangladesh media has also quoted the 58th BGB battalion officials as saying that those who have been arrested have claimed to be Bangladeshis.
It is clear that the Modi government’s strict stance against illegal immigration and insistence on conducting a nationwide NRC exercise has already started yielding positive results. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah told Rajya Sabha that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will soon be implemented at an all India level. Moreover, it was reported only a few months ago that the Modi government has decided to prepare a National Population Register (NPR) by September next year. It will be a list of usual residents of the country. A usual resident is defined is someone who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more or who intends to reside in a local area for the coming six months or more. According to an official, the NPR, once prepared and published will form the basis of the preparation of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). The NRIC would be a pan-India version of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The BJP has consistently opposed illegal immigration, and the ruling party’s position has only become stronger ever since the party president, Amit Shah was appointed as the Union Home Minister. He has taken a tough stand on illegal immigration which now seems to be resulting in illegal immigrants crossing over into Bangladesh, following a realisation of the fact that the Government of India is no longer going to tolerate illegal immigration and presence of illegal immigrants within India.
