Kolkata: Those who once sneaked into India in the dark of night are now exposing themselves in broad daylight and fleeing to Bangladesh. Those who once fraudulently obtained Indian identity cards to prove themselves citizens and benefited from various government schemes for years are now coming forward openly and revealing their true identities.
Upon reaching the border, they are showing Bangladeshi documents they have hidden and pleading with BSF personnel and police to let them cross safely. Such is the scene these days at the Hakimpur border post, located on the India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas district, about 90 km from Kolkata.
Hundreds of Bangladeshi infiltrators are gathering there. They are arriving by train and bus, carrying bundles of their belongings from various districts of West Bengal and other states. These include men, women, children, and the elderly. Fear and anxiety are clearly visible on their faces.
"During the 2020 lockdown, I secretly came here with my family with the help of an agent and have been living in Devinagar, a Birati area adjacent to Kolkata, ever since. The agent helped me, my wife, four sons, and one daughter cross the border in the dark of night. He took Rs 4,000 in exchange for this. I was working as a mason with my sons,” Haroon Sheikh, a resident of Bangladesh's Khulna district told Dainik Jagran.
“Our identities were revealed during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bengal. Now, with the formation of a new government here, we have no choice but to return to our homeland. I will return to Bangladesh and cultivate rice,” he added.
Harun thanked the government, saying, "It is their kindness that arrangements are being made to send us home safely without arrest; otherwise, we would be rotting in jail."
Mohammad Sohel Ghazi, along with his mother, wife, and younger brother, had sneaked into India three years ago and was living in a rented house in the College More area of Basirhat.
They had paid an agent Rs 15,000 to help them cross the border. Both brothers were working in the construction sector. Ghazi said, "After the BJP government came to power in Bengal, we realized that living here this way was no longer possible."
"I saw in the news that many people like us were returning to Bangladesh from the Hakimpur border post, so I came here. We did not bring any identification with us from Bangladesh, so we are having trouble returning because we need to present some document proving our citizenship to the government to return."
Rozana Bibi, a resident of Ramakrishnapur village in Satkhira district, also bordering Bangladesh, entered India by paying an agent and was working as a domestic help in a house in the Matiaburj area of Kolkata. She has an 18-year-old son. The landlady fired her after her identity was revealed. Now, she wants to return to Bangladesh.
Special Method Being Adopted To Send Back Intruders
A camp has been set up by the Bengal Police at the Hakimpur border outpost. An officer posted there said, "Bangladeshi infiltrators arriving here are being photographed and asked to show their Bangladeshi identity cards. Arrangements are being made to return those who can prove they are Bangladeshi citizens by showing documents. After collecting their data, it is being entered into the 'Foreigner Identity Portal.'"
After this, they are systematically deported. Until then, these people are being kept in holding centres. So far, more than 300 infiltrators have been sent to Bangladesh. Those who are unable to produce documents are being asked to contact their relatives living in Bangladesh by phone and obtain verification documents from the administration there and send them.
A BSF officer stationed at the border post said, "The state administration is overseeing the entire citizenship verification process. We are working as per the orders we receive. Many people are trying to escape to Bangladesh on their own instead of taking advantage of the state administration's arrangements, so the border is being closely monitored."