West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced the implementation of a new mechanism under which individuals identified as infiltrators and detained by state police will be handed over directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) for deportation proceedings.
Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, Adhikari clarified that communities covered under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would remain outside the scope of the new process.
The Chief Minister said the move operationalises a provision communicated by the Centre last year regarding the direct transfer of infiltrators to the BSF.
“A letter had been sent by the Centre to the state on May 14 last year regarding the direct handover of infiltrators to the BSF, but the previous government failed to implement this important provision. We have now enforced it,” Adhikari said.
He alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government had opposed the CAA and chose not to operationalise the mechanism suggested by the Centre.
Explaining the legal framework, Adhikari said seven communities covered under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and those who entered India before the prescribed cut-off date would not face action under the new system.
“Under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, seven communities have been named and those who came till December 31, 2024, are protected. The police cannot detain them,” he said.
The Chief Minister added that individuals not covered under the Act would be treated as infiltrators and dealt with under the newly enforced procedure.
“State police will detain them and hand them over to the BSF,” he stated.
According to Adhikari, the BSF will coordinate with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and initiate the deportation process.
“The BSF will speak to the BGB and take necessary steps to deport them. From today, this law is being implemented,” he said.
He added that instructions had already been conveyed to the Director General of Police and the state Home Secretary, with implementation beginning across police stations located in border districts.
“We have informed the DGP and the Home Secretary that this law will be implemented in all police stations in border areas for the sake of West Bengal and India’s security,” Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister said identification and action against infiltrators would begin immediately as part of the state government’s broader focus on border management and internal security.
