West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said around 4,800 illegal immigrants have been deported to Bangladesh from holding centres established in the state’s border districts, while another 836 people are currently awaiting repatriation.

Addressing a preparatory meeting for the BJP’s special training camp, Adhikari said tackling illegal immigration and strengthening border security remain among his government’s key priorities. He outlined steps being taken to identify, process and deport individuals who are not covered under the provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Government Highlights Deportation Drive

According to Adhikari, thousands of alleged undocumented immigrants have already been sent back to Bangladesh in recent weeks, while those currently housed in holding centres are undergoing the necessary procedures before deportation.

The chief minister said individuals who do not qualify under the CAA framework are being handed over directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) in line with Union government guidelines. He argued that this process has helped streamline deportations and reduce the burden on state facilities.

Adhikari also claimed that the previous government had failed to adequately address the issue, allowing many such individuals to remain in state-run facilities for extended periods.

Focus On Border Fencing

The chief minister said the state government has already handed over land to the BSF for the construction of fencing along nearly 100 kilometres of the India-Bangladesh border. The move is part of a broader effort to secure sections of the frontier that remain unfenced.

According to Adhikari, around 556 kilometres of the border still require fencing, with authorities prioritising vulnerable stretches, including the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the Chicken’s Neck.

The corridor is a narrow land link connecting India’s northeastern states to the rest of the country and is considered one of the country’s most sensitive strategic zones.

Immigration Continues To Be Political Flashpoint

Illegal immigration and demographic change were among the central issues raised by the BJP during the recent West Bengal Assembly election campaign. Adhikari reiterated that his administration would continue pursuing a policy of identifying and deporting undocumented immigrants while implementing border security measures.

The state government had earlier directed district administrations to establish holding centres for foreign nationals awaiting deportation, following guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry.

With border fencing projects progressing and deportation procedures continuing, the issue is expected to remain a major focus of the state government’s administrative and political agenda in the coming months.

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