BSF colluding with Centre, allowing infiltration: CM
Times of India | 3 January 2025
12 Kolkata: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday squarely blamed BSF for the state's illegal infiltration problem, accusing the force of following a "central govt blueprint". This, she added, was being done with a political motive: to discredit and blame Trinamool Congress, she said.
"The border is neither guarded by Trinamool nor police; it is guarded by BSF," Banerjee said at the year's first administrative meeting. "They are the ones facilitating infiltration. Criminals are crossing the border, committing murders and escaping. DGP Rajeev Kumar has provided specific and important information on this. Some information has also been obtained at the local level. I should be given all these details comprehensively. I will write a strong letter to the Centre about this."
She said that she had alerted the Centre about the issue multiple times.
The chief minister said the infiltration was being allowed to happen because there was a tacit "adjustment (arrangement)" with BSF. The infiltrators, she said, were entering Bengal mainly through Islampur, Sitai and Chopra. "They are also committing atrocities against women, but why is there no protest?" she wondered aloud. "Some individuals are crossing the border, committing crimes and escaping. Murders are also happening. In reality, goons are being sent here. Infiltration is occurring through Malda and Nadia."
Banerjee went on to say that the illegal entry was happening through buses, trains and even planes. "But no list (passenger manifest) is shared with us. We are not allowed to know who is entering," she said. She then turned to DGP Kumar and instructed him to keep special watch on the places where infiltration was a problem. She also asked him to activate the DIB (district intelligence branch) about the matter.
The CM said she wanted peace on both sides of the border, but that did not mean she would tolerate terror activities in the state. She said she welcomed medical tourists from Bangladesh. "But criminals, too, are coming here. BSF is allowing it, and there is a central blueprint here. I have said we will accept what the Centre does. But if terrorism gets supported, we will have to lodge strong protest," she said.
Banerjee also responding to an allegation by state minister Udayan Guha, who claimed Delhi Police was coming to Dinhata in Cooch Behar and harassing migrant labourers. "Why is this verification work happening in my state without the state administration being informed," she said. "They must work here with local police permission, and with our police." Turning to the Cooch Behar SP, she said: "Why didn't you inform the DGP about it? You feed khichri to BSF and biryani to Delhi Police. The SP is silent. You must know where they are going. You must know the subject before you become SP."
The police, she said, were not stopping these activities. "They are cooperating with BSF." Maintaining law and order in the district is the responsibility of district SPs, "but some are not fulfilling their duties properly," she added.
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