New Delhi, April 3 – Intelligence agencies have once again raised concerns about the large-scale illegal immigration into the states of Assam and West Bengal, where elections are to be held this month.
There has been a significant effort to send illegal immigrants into Assam and West Bengal, indicating that attempts are being made to create a negative atmosphere in these states as elections are approaching, an official from the Intelligence Bureau said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Assam, emphasized that illegal immigration is not just a political slogan but a matter related to Assam's identity and the security of both the state and the nation. He stated that it affects farmers, the livelihoods of the poor and Adivasis, and the security of women.
The agencies have alerted the police of both states to conduct thorough investigations, as the effort to bring in illegal immigrants is substantial. It could involve thousands of individuals, and the main push would be made before the voting is completed, an official said.
This alert comes in the wake of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) arresting 14 Bangladeshi infiltrators on the North-East Express train bound for New Delhi, in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district. The agencies are currently investigating who advised these people to come to India and what their purpose was.
Another official stated that the illegal immigration push is not just being made to create a negative atmosphere in the poll-bound states of West Bengal and Assam.
The individuals involved in sending these infiltrators are trying to take advantage of the fact that security personnel are busy with the elections, and hence, such attempts can be made.
When the 14 arrested individuals were asked about the route they took to India, they said that they came through the Assam border using fake documents and had planned to go to New Delhi.
What has alarmed the security agencies is how many people are managing to enter the country when the security at the India-Bangladesh border is so tight.
An official said that further investigation of these individuals will reveal how the group managed to enter India and who helped them out on both sides of the border.
Another official said that the coordination between the Indian and Bangladeshi forces is perfect, and both sides have agreed to work on the problem. However, there are some loopholes that these individuals are exploiting, which is why infiltration is taking place, the official also added.
An official said that these individuals are taking advantage of the unfenced areas along the India-Bangladesh border to carry out such infiltration.
Out of the 4,061-kilometre border, around 3,141 kilometres remain unfenced. West Bengal shares a 2,216-kilometre border, of which 569 kilometres are unfenced. In the case of Assam, fencing has been difficult due to marshlands, hills, and riverine areas. Over 900 kilometres of the total border is riverine, where fencing is impossible. This is what these individuals are taking advantage of.
Intelligence agencies say that there will be many more attempts to slip infiltrators into India. The maximum number of such cases one could expect is during this period.
The fact that the local police are busy with the elections is also helping these individuals to avoid detection, officials say.
PM Modi, while speaking about the ill-effects of this problem, asked BJP workers to collect information on illegal encroachments and find out the negative impact that it has had. The PM's warning comes in the wake of the agencies flagging for many years about how illegal immigration is not just about seeking jobs, but about effecting a demographic change in the Indian states.