West Bengal chief says 4,800 migrants sent to Bangladesh

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Sunday, June 7, that approximately 4,800 individuals identified as undocumented immigrants have been deported to Bangladesh from state-run holding centers, with another 836 awaiting deportation. The Chief Minister stated the actions are part of a systematic process to identify and repatriate foreign nationals residing illegally in the state, in accordance with laws established by the Union government.

Adhikari said the deportations involve individuals who do not qualify for protection under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He explained that those detained are being handed over directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) for repatriation, a procedure he said was not implemented by the previous state administration. The holding centers were established by the state government on May 22.

The announcement comes amid heightened focus on border security. Adhikari reported that his government has handed over land to the BSF for the construction of approximately 100 kilometers of fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, prioritizing the sensitive Siliguri Corridor. He noted that a total of 556 kilometers of fencing is...