Tension at Hakimpur border, locals angry at ‘misinformation’
The Statesman | 21 November 2025
Tension gripped the Hakimpur border area in North 24-Parganas’ Swarupnagar on Thursday morning after locals accused sections of the Media of spreading “misleading and provocative” reports amid the ongoing outflow of Bangladeshi nationals returning to their country following the announcement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
For nearly two months, residents said, groups of undocumented Bangladeshi citizens, living in different parts of West Bengal, have been quietly crossing back into Bangladesh through the Hakimpur check-post. The numbers have increased sharply in the last two-and-a-half weeks, with local sources estimating that nearly 2,000 people have returned during this period. On Thursday morning alone, nearly 200 Bangladeshis had gathered near the border gate, waiting for it to open. Among them was Aleya Bibi, who had migrated from Satkhira to Dankuni with her family a few years ago. With her husband working as a daily-wage labourer, the family had been living without documents.
“We had no papers and received no facilities here. After SIR was announced, we became extremely anxious. So, we decided to return home,” she said. Another migrant, Selim Sardar, echoed her claim. Locals maintained that the return of undocumented migrants was being handled through a set procedure at the Hakimpur check-post and that the process had been peaceful. Trouble erupted, they alleged, after a particular Media outlet aired footage of a protest purportedly organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), where protesters were seen holding placards reading “Rohingyas, leave India!”
Residents insisted that no Rohingyas lived in the area and termed the protest “fabricated” and aimed at creating communal tension. The local VHP unit, too, denied holding any such demonstration, alleging that its name was being misused. Angered by the reports, groups of residents confronted Media persons, leading to heated exchanges. A few journalists were allegedly assaulted, and several vehicles were reportedly attacked and chased for several kilometres. The situation remained tense till late afternoon, with locals claiming that BSF personnel were restricting Media entry near the check-post.