10,000 'illegal' immigrants sent back to Bangladesh so far: West Bengal CM Adhikari
Some 1,800 people are still lodged in 12 holding centres in West Bengal, says Suvendu Adhikari.
About 10,000 "illegal" immigrants have been sent back to Bangladesh from West Bengal by India's Border Security Force (BSF) to date, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told the state legislative assembly yesterday (23 June).
Some 1,800 are still lodged in 12 holding centres in the state, Adhikari said, as he sought to assure people he described as "genuine citizens" of India not to worry and that "it does not matter which religion or community they belong to or their political affiliation."
He said action will continue against those residing in the state illegally.
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"The barbed-wire fencing along 600 kilometres of the border in Bengal will be completed within the next six months, as the country's safety and security are our priority," the Bharatiya Janata Party leader added.
"The illegal immigrants will be pushed back to Bangladesh. We will not send them to jail and provide them with free food and medicine. Instead, that money will be used for special assistance schemes for women and other welfare schemes."
The West Bengal chief minister said many Bangladeshi immigrants have left the country and returned through the Hakimpur border.
He added that 142.79 acres of land have been handed over to the BSF so far for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border.
The first BJP government in West Bengal, headed by Adhikari, began its drive against undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh since assuming power in May.
