Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Tuesday that at least 37 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, have been deported to the neighboring country after they illegally crossed the international border into Indian territory.
CM Sarma wrote on Instagram, “Sneaky infiltrators, goodbye, your time in Assam is over! 37 uninvited guests have been deported from the Sribhumi sector to their homeland in Bangladesh. I am telling you all in advance – all unwanted guests will be treated the same way.”
The state government has taken a firm stance against infiltration from Bangladesh. CM Sarma frequently warns about the danger of changing Assam’s demographics. He accused previous Congress governments of harboring Bangladeshi infiltrators and claimed that they were encroaching on the land of the indigenous people.
Chief Minister Sarma had previously asserted that although some Bangladeshi infiltrators have managed to obtain Aadhaar cards, they are unable to enroll themselves on the voter list. He stated that there is no possibility of illegally crossing the international border from Bangladesh to register on the Assam voter list, as security forces have apprehended many who entered Indian territory illegally and repatriated them within a few hours. Most infiltrators were arrested around 5 a.m. and deported to the neighboring country before 9 a.m.
They are unable to enroll their names on the voter list within two to three hours. However, the Chief Minister sees no harm in being redoubled in this matter. He further stated, “We have decided to take several steps against the detection of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, as there is a possibility that security personnel may not be able to apprehend some infiltrators.”
The Chief Minister argued that people from Bangladesh come to India because poverty has increased in the neighboring country due to the recent unrest following the departure of the Sheikh Hasina government. He also claimed that contrary to traditional fears, people mainly from the Muslim community are trying to cross the border and enter India illegally for employment.
