Himanta calls for unified efforts of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and WB to check influx from Bangladesh

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 27, 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday called for coordinated action among Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and West Bengal to support the Border Security Force (BSF) in addressing the ongoing influx from Bangladesh.

Sarma expressed concern that, despite current efforts by BSF and state authorities, Bangladeshis, especially Rohingya Muslims continue to cross the porous India-Bangladesh border into Assam almost daily.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Assam and Tripura are already working closely with the BSF to identify and prevent illegal entries, and he encouraged the West Bengal government to intensify its detection measures. A systematic, orchestrated strategy across all border states, he noted, would significantly bolster India’s border security.

He underscored the need for a unified approach, cautioning that the situation could deteriorate without collaborative efforts across the border states.

Sarma reiterated Assam’s neutral approach toward handling illegal immigration, stating, “If anybody comes from Bangladesh to our country, they must be detected and pushed back irrespective of their religious identity.”

He emphasized Assam’s close cooperation with the Border Security Force (BSF), with frequent joint operations involving both BSF and state police to identify and intercept illegal entrants.

Over the past two months, Assam has identified and repatriated 138 individuals attempting to cross the Bangladesh border.

Contrary to the expectation that instability in Bangladesh might lead to an increase in Hindu Bengali arrivals, Sarma clarified that the majority of those intercepted have been Rohingya Muslims, he said.

This trend, he noted, challenges the perception that Hindu Bengalis are the main group entering India, with evidence indicating that Rohingya Muslims are the predominant group attempting to cross the border.