Porous India-Bangladesh Border and Fencing Efforts
India shares a 4,096.7 km border with Bangladesh, distributed across several states:
Assam: 262 km
Tripura: 856 km
Mizoram: 318 km
Meghalaya: 443 km
West Bengal: 2,217 km
Barbed wire fencing has been installed along 3,180.653 km of this border, with the remaining 916.7 km expected to be completed by 2025.
Border patrolling, especially in riverine areas, presents significant challenges. The previous scheme of floating border posts has proven ineffective. Despite stringent measures, illegal immigration from Bangladesh continues unabated.
Magnitude of the Problem
Millions of illegal Bangladeshi migrants have entered various Indian states by exploiting the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. Organized gangs of agents facilitate this migration. Initially concentrated in West Bengal, Assam, and the northeastern states, they have now spread to 8-9 other states, including Maharashtra.
In Maharashtra, their numbers are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, with significant concentrations in cities like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Bhiwandi, Malegaon, and coastal areas. These migrants are often employed in labor-intensive sectors such as construction, roadwork, and metro projects.
Many Bangladeshi migrants are now resorting to sea routes. They are reaching new states such as Odisha via boats, leading to a surge in illegal settlements across several districts, including Kendrapara, Nawarangpur, Malkangiri, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Chilika, Ganjam, Balasore, and Keonjhar.
Complicity of Local Administration
Instead of aiding the Border Security Force (BSF), local civil administrations are found supporting illegal migrants. In many cases, necessary documents are prepared even before migrants set foot on Indian soil. When the BSF manages to apprehend illegal entrants, legal obstacles and hostile local populations—many of whom are Bangladeshi settlers—hinder their efforts.
Role of Employers and Local Support
Some locals knowingly employ illegal migrants, driven by religious affiliations or vote-bank politics. This complicity enables migrants to integrate into local communities, making detection more challenging.
Continuing Infiltration Despite Security Measures
Despite the deployment of the Border Security Force illegal infiltration from Bangladesh into India continues unabated. CFrequent complaints regarding illegal infiltration have been reported, yet no strong deterrent actions have been taken. Additionally, allegations of cattle smuggling from India to Bangladesh have continued for a long time.
A recent viral video has raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of border surveillance. The video, captured in Assam’s Dhubri district, shows common people opening border gates in the absence of BSF personnel, allowing unrestricted movement between the two countries. The ease with which tractors entered Indian territory from Bangladesh suggests a serious security lapse.
Challenges in Border Management
This incident is not an isolated case; rather, it highlights a systemic issue in border management. While the central government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening border security, the video reveals a stark contrast to those claims. The apparent lack of enforcement and supervision raises questions about the effectiveness of existing security protocols.
The Need for Stronger Measures
The latest revelations underscore the urgent need for enhanced border security measures, increased deployment of personnel, and stricter enforcement of border management protocols. Authorities must ensure that such security breaches do not continue unchecked, as they pose a serious threat to national security and territorial integrity.
Following major aspects will be covered in this article:-
– Accusations Against the BSF
– Encouragement of Infiltration by Bengal’s State Government
– State Machinery’s Role: Not Just the BSF’s Responsibility
– Bangladeshi Infiltration and Demographic Shift in Jharkhand’s Tribal Belt & Countermeasures.
– Security Threats from Illegal Immigration
– Remedial Measures to Counter Demographic Invasion.
– Bangladeshi Infiltration in Various Indian States Factors Contributing to Spread:
Remedial Measures to Counter Demographic Invasion In Hinterland
– Addressing Illegal Bangladeshi Migration in India-Few Recommendations
– Conclusion-Changing Tactics of Bangladeshi Infiltrators & Countering It
