West Bengal's New Policy on Illegal Immigrants: Direct Transfer to BSF
New Directive for Handling Illegal Immigrants
On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a significant change in the handling of detained illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Instead of being presented in courts, these individuals will now be handed directly to the Border Security Force (BSF). Reports indicate that this directive has been in effect since May 20 and has been communicated to both the state police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Under the new arrangement introduced by the BJP-led government in Bengal, those identified as illegal immigrants who do not qualify for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be taken directly to BSF checkpoints rather than being processed through the judicial system. This initiative is part of a broader strategy outlined by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, aimed at addressing the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators.
Shift in Immigration Policy
This approach marks a departure from the traditional procedures typically followed for foreign nationals accused of entering India without valid documentation. In 2016, former Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju stated in Parliament that approximately 20 million illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were residing in India. The government has made it clear that these illegal immigrants pose a threat to national security. Adhikari's announcement comes amid a rising political campaign against illegal immigration from Bangladesh, particularly in BJP-ruled states. The BJP has repeatedly accused the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) of ignoring the issue for vote bank politics, a claim that the TMC has denied. Strengthening border security and curbing infiltration has emerged as a key electoral issue for the BJP ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, contributing to the party's rise to power in West Bengal.
Similar Stance in Assam
In neighboring Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has adopted a similar tough stance against infiltrators in recent months. He stated that instead of keeping declared foreigners in detention centers indefinitely, the state has begun deporting or sending them back. In response to the diplomatic controversy arising from this statement, Sarma referenced the Supreme Court's orders and the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act of 1950, arguing that district officials can take action against illegal immigrants without waiting for foreign tribunals in each case. Reports suggest that Assam has sent hundreds of individuals back, although this action has raised questions about legal procedures and court petitions. This shared political stance gained significant attention following Sarma's oath-taking ceremony in Guwahati, which occurred shortly after Suvendu's swearing-in in Kolkata, highlighting the anti-infiltration rhetoric of both BJP chief ministers.