West Bengal CM Suvendu warns ‘undocumented’ Bangladeshis of crackdown

West Bengal’s newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has issued a stern warning to alleged undocumented Bangladeshi nationals, demanding they exit the Indian state immediately or face action.

The Times of India, citing national news agency PTI, reported that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader claimed a massive gathering of "illegal Bangladeshis" had formed along at the Hakimpur checkpoint in the Basirhat subdivision of North 24 Parganas district.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday following an administrative review meeting, Suvendu asserted that those massed at the border were looking to return to Bangladesh.

He was quoted by the TOI as explicitly warning the group in Hindi: "Jaldi jaldi bhago, nahi toh jo karna hai sarkar karega" (Quickly leave, otherwise the government will take necessary action).

The BJP politician reiterated his administration's commitment to swiftly implementing the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across West Bengal.

Suvendu argued that previous regimes had overlooked cross-border infiltration due to "vote-bank politics", adding that his government would prioritise national and state security over electoral calculations.

"We have no intention of keeping them in prisons at the taxpayers' expense, said Suvendu.

“Their presence compromises the interests of Indian citizens, particularly the people of West Bengal. The legal framework has always existed, and we will now enforce it strictly."

Immediately after taking office, Suvendu directed state police and border security agencies to adopt a strict policy of "detect, delete, and deport" to flush out “undocumented” Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees.

The West Bengal government has instructed all district administrations to set up temporary detention centres.

These facilities are designed to hold flagged foreign nationals and released foreign convicts until formal deportation.

Malda has become the first district in the state to operationalise such a facility.

Located at Chandan Park in English Bazar, the heavily guarded camp is currently holding nine "suspected Bangladeshis", including women and children, who were recently picked up by law enforcement from the Pandua area in Gazole, the TOI reported.