Intelligence agencies have raised concerns about significant illegal immigration into Assam and West Bengal, coinciding with the upcoming elections in these states. There is a notable surge in attempts to infiltrate these regions, posing a threat to their stability as elections approach, as per an Intelligence Bureau official.
During a rally in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that illegal immigration is not merely a political slogan but a critical issue impacting the identity and security of Assam and the nation at large. He highlighted its adverse effects on farmers’ land, the livelihoods of the underprivileged, indigenous tribes, and women’s safety.
Authorities have alerted the police in Assam and West Bengal to intensify scrutiny due to the scale of the illegal immigration attempts. The influx could involve several thousand individuals, with a major surge anticipated before the completion of voting, an official disclosed.
In a recent incident, the Railway Protection Force apprehended 14 Bangladeshi infiltrators aboard the North-East Express train bound for New Delhi in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district. Investigations are underway to determine the motives behind their entry into India and who facilitated their journey.
The ongoing illegal immigration push is not solely aimed at influencing the election atmosphere in West Bengal and Assam, according to another official. Exploiting the diversion of security resources during elections, these elements seek to capitalize on the situation to facilitate such incursions.
Security agencies are alarmed by the ease with which individuals are breaching the tight security measures along the India-Bangladesh border. Further inquiries into the arrested individuals are expected to unveil the methods employed to enter India and identify the accomplices on both sides of the border.
Concerns persist over the porous nature of certain sections along the India-Bangladesh border, which are exploited by facilitators to facilitate illegal infiltrations. Despite coordinated efforts between Indian and Bangladeshi forces, existing loopholes enable such activities to persist, exploiting unfenced border stretches.
With a significant portion of the border remaining unfenced, particularly in West Bengal and Assam, the vulnerabilities in border security are being exploited by those orchestrating illegal immigration. Intelligence agencies anticipate a rise in such infiltration attempts, especially during the current period.
Prime Minister Modi has urged BJP workers to gather intelligence on illegal encroachments and assess their detrimental impact. This call to action follows long-standing warnings from agencies about the broader implications of illegal immigration beyond mere job-seeking, emphasizing its potential to alter the demographic fabric of Indian states.
