500 Bangladeshis fleeing West Bengal stranded near Zero Line | Kolkata News
KOLKATA: Several hundred Bangladeshi nationals – men, women and children – were intercepted by BSF at Hakimpur check post near Swarupnagar, in North 24 Parganas, on Monday morning. They were allegedly attempting to cross the border to return home amid growing fears linked to the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls.Personnel of BSF’s 143rd Battalion detected the movement while monitoring a riverine stretch of the border and detained the group for questioning. A source said this was the largest single batch of suspected undocumented Bangladeshi nationals intercepted this year.
The incident follows a noticeable increase in reverse migration attempts, particularly through porous border belt of North 24 Parganas. By Tuesday afternoon, number of stranded Bangladeshis at Hakimpur border point swelled to over 500, said BSF officials. Carrying blankets, and essential belongings, the detainees – who have been camping near Zero Line since Monday night – admitted to entering India illegally and working in Kolkata’s suburbs without valid documents. None possessed passports, visas or identity papers, BSF officials added.Many detainees said they lived illegally for years in Birati, Madhyamgram, Rajarhat, New Town and Salt Lake, working primarily as domestic workers, daily labourers or construction workers. Earlier this month, BSF intercepted 94 more Bangladeshis attempting to cross back through the Tarali border under Hakimpur.Speaking to reporters, several detainees said the intensified document scrutiny under SIR triggered panic. “I was staying in a rented house for more than a decade and working as domestic help. I have no documents. Now I want to return to Satkhira,” said Taklima Khatun.BSF personnel said that once such migrants are detained, their identities are verified through questioning. Basic data, including fingerprints and photos, are collected before BSF contacts their Bangladeshi counterpart – Border Guard Bangladesh – for repatriation.
