Unthinkable is happening !!
Sickularism shaken
'Bangladeshis' rush to the border soon after the Election Commission started holding the SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of next year’s polls.
Voter revision drive SIR sees 'reverse exodus', illegal migrants head back to Bangladesh
“We are scared. That is why we packed our bags and came here,” Abdul Momin, one of the people crossing the border, told The Indian Express.
He claimed that he came to India from "Satkhira district in Bangladesh" five years ago after “paying a tout at the border”.
As the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process comes into effect across several states in India, people are reportedly crossing over to Bangladesh amid fears of getting caught.
The report shed light on the situation at the Hakimpur border outpost in West Bengal. Men, women and children are squatting at the border as they wait for their turn to cross the country.
In June I traveled to some parts of North Bengal and the on-ground assessment was that the Illegal Immigration of Bangladeshis is a matter of concern:
"It's more than mere conspiracy", say citizens in Coochbehar-Sitai belt in North Bengal. "There is a system and systematic political patronage". Those entering into Sitai area hardly stay here. Influx happening almost daily basis ... despite presence of BSF, locals said.
Trinamool operatives with 'necessary patronage' ensure that such illegal immigrants are easily taken to Siliguri and two key Muslim-dominated hubs Murshidabad and Malda.
There are few pockets dominated by Rajbongshi Muslims.
They are called Naishya Rajbongshis.
Otherwise 'mainstream Bengali Muslims' make it convenient to reach Muslim-strongholds Murshidabad where Hindus are not only in minority; they are also slowly but gradually moving out to 'safer places'.
In 1951, nearly 44.6% of Murshidabad's population was Hindu. Today, that number has dropped below 35.12%.
Muslims in Murshidabad are now around 64 per cent of voters and the Hindu population which was around
,,,,, 44 per cent in 1951 has nosedived to 35.
Malda:
In Malda, locals quoting media and other reports say Muslim population is about 26-27 lakh – a quantum leap from 16.5 lakh in 2001.
Trinamool party workers in Coochbehar (who claim of visiting Malda from time to time on party and also personal work) say “voter rolls” overestimate Muslim households in Malda region.
Often TMC workers (and possibly voters) have connections to both the places Malda and Coochbehar.
They do not share details (whether multiple voters cards)
Malda is a well known ‘entry’ point for Bangladeshis. The locality stretches a 170-km unfenced border.
Muslim population in 2001 was – 16,36,000
This shot up to 20,45,000 in 2011 (25 per cent rise)
In 2021 – the rise was again by 25 per cent – numbers jumped to around 26,000
(Making it clear this could not be natural growth in population)
In Coochbehar (some pockets – under Sitai and Dinhata assembly segments – political activists said –
Voter’s names remain on voter lists even after they move to Malda and Siliguri and in some cases even outside West Bengal.
This is Malda-trend, locals said.
Notably, Malda has one of India’s top districts for “outmigration” for jobs and also natural disasters such as floods.
BJP workers say – whenever a Muslim rickshawallah or daily wage earner (informal workers) say their ‘home town or native village’ is Malda – they should be suspect as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Madrasas and others who “help” Bangladeshis teach the new comers to say so whenever they are confronted by any officials or political activists like from the RSS.
Bengali Muslim Rickshawallahs or even auto drivers and daily labourers may not carry enough cash or cloth.
But they have a card – Voter’s Card or something else readily available and handy.
From Sitai region – one got the feedback that Bangladeshi immigration actually has taken things in “grip” at three levels/layers.
First stage - Sitai and Sitalkuchi (people come in)
Second stage – They move out quickly to Siliguri, Malda
(Hence Malda is called Migrant’s first launching centre)
And then they settle mostly in Murshidabad district
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| Blogger and young students in North Bengal -- not far from international border |
In Murshidabad and Malda – fake Aadhaar and voters cards are provided for Rs 500 or so.
There is a systematic ‘launchpad’ for illegal immigrants especially Bengali Muslims.
BJP supporters say – Election Commission must be pro-active well in advance as TMC has already started playing games with their select officials in select pockets.
**The plan is “votes” will be cast on EVMs on behalf of “people who are no longer voters there” and have migrated even outside West Bengal.
The Bangladesh border is relatively close to the Sitai and Sitalkuchi areas of Cooch Behar district
Sitai is bordered by Bangladesh to the south and west, specifically by the Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila and Aditmari Upazila of Bangladesh.
Sitalkuchi:
This hub has been the scene of “increased security measures” due to growing incidents of attempted infiltration.
Cooch Behar district shares a 549.45 km long border with Bangladesh.
BSF Presence is visible.
But political patronage is the talk of the town.
There are two varieties of BJP and RSS leaders in West Bengal including in Coochbehar and other pockets in North Bengal. One is 'original and sons of the soil (Rajbongsis) and the other is turncoats from Trinamool. In 2024, the original BJP/RSS workers were marginalised and this created major setback.
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