Hakimpur border flooded as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants attempt escape after Bengal govt intensifies ‘detect, delete, deport’ drive
The Statesman | 27 May 2026
A sharp escalation in enforcement action against undocumented migrants has triggered heavy movement and large gatherings at the Hakimpur checkpost along the Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas, as authorities intensified identification and deportation efforts under a “detect, delete and deport” approach of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in West Bengal.
Hakimpur checkpost, a key border entry point in North 24 Parganas, saw heightened activity after enforcement teams began steps to identify and move undocumented foreign nationals for deportation procedures.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, responding to developments linked to the border action, said he was aware of the situation unfolding at Hakimpur. He stated that the intensified enforcement environment had created panic among illegal migrants and added that those affected should consider leaving quickly.
The developments come after the West Bengal administration directed district officials to establish holding centres for foreign nationals identified as residing illegally in the state, including those who have completed prison terms and are awaiting deportation.
The directive aligns with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines outlining procedures for managing undocumented foreign nationals and repatriation processes.
Officials have been instructed to ensure housing arrangements for such individuals until deportation or transfer procedures are completed.
At an administrative review meeting in Kalyani, Nadia district, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reiterated the state’s approach toward undocumented migrants, stating that identification, removal and deportation form the core of the policy framework.
He maintained that individuals found to be residing illegally in the state would be processed through legal mechanisms and handed over for deportation in coordination with relevant authorities.
He further stated that enforcement actions were being carried out under existing legal provisions, which he claimed had not been implemented effectively in earlier years.
According to the Chief Minister, the administrative machinery has been directed to ensure that undocumented migrants are either presented before courts or processed for repatriation, depending on legal assessment.
Authorities maintain that the current measures are part of an intensified enforcement cycle focused on compliance with immigration and citizenship rules.