Adhikari vows crackdown on infiltration, illegal madrasas in Bengal border districts

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday announced a crackdown on alleged illegal infiltration, unauthorised madrasas and land grabbing in border areas, while directing officials to complete hearings on 9,000 pending Citizenship (Amendment) Act applications in Uttar Dinajpur district by November 30.

Addressing an administrative meeting and a public rally in Raiganj during his first visit to the district after assuming office, Adhikari said his government would take strict action against activities he described as threats to national security.

He also warned against cow slaughter, called for the identification and deportation of undocumented migrants from Bangladesh and directed police to reopen old cases against Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman over allegations of land grabbing.

The Chief Minister said the measures reflected his government's commitment to border security, citizenship rights for eligible refugees and protection of land belonging to vulnerable communities.

𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗔𝗔 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Adhikari instructed the district magistrate to complete hearings on approximately 9,000 citizenship applications submitted by Hindu refugees under the CAA by November 30.

"I will give CAA certificates to refugees. I have told the district magistrate that there are 9,000 applications of people whom the Jamaatis drove out of Bangladesh solely because they are Hindus. We will grant them citizenship under the CAA. The hearings must be completed by November 30," he said.

He urged eligible refugees who had not yet applied for citizenship to submit their applications without delay and called for expediting the legal process for those currently lodged in detention facilities.

"Not a single Hindu refugee from Bangladesh should remain in the Raiganj jail. The legal process must be completed quickly," Adhikari said.

Invoking Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom he described as the country's "Iron Man", the Chief Minister said he had been entrusted with the responsibility of facilitating citizenship for eligible refugees.

The CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for eligible Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, subject to prescribed conditions.

Adhikari also directed officials to ensure that eligible Scheduled Caste applicants received caste certificates and that their names were included in the electoral rolls scheduled for publication in January.

𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Turning to border security, Adhikari said his government would identify and deport people found to have entered India illegally from Bangladesh.

He urged residents to inform the police and Border Security Force (BSF) about suspected illegal entrants and said 7.9161 acres of land had already been transferred to the border guarding force.

"Those who are infiltrators should be pushed out. Inform the police and the BSF. We will not keep them here. It will be straight back to the pavilion," he said.

At the public meeting, Adhikari said those identified as illegal migrants would be placed in holding stations before being repatriated to Bangladesh. He maintained that people fleeing religious persecution and eligible for citizenship under the CAA should not be treated as infiltrators.

𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘀

The Chief Minister directed police to ensure that no unauthorised madrasas operated in the border districts, linking the instruction to his government's security priorities.

"There will be no illegal madrasas. Anti-national activities will not be tolerated," he said.

He also criticised groups allegedly promoting separatist sentiments, including those raising slogans demanding independence for Kashmir.

Referring to such groups as the "tukde-tukde gang", Adhikari used derogatory language to warn against their activities in border areas.

Adhikari also issued a warning against cow slaughter, invoking the religious significance of cattle among Hindus.

"No one should raise a hand against Gau Mata. No one should harm Gau Mata. I am making this clear. If it happens, no one will be worse than me," he said.

His remarks formed part of a series of announcements and warnings delivered during the visit, where he linked his administration's priorities to citizenship, border security and religious concerns.

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

In another significant development, Adhikari accused Chopra MLA Hamidul Rahman of involvement in land grabbing and instructed police to reopen old cases against him.

The allegations came days after Rahman, who had aligned himself with a rebel Trinamool Congress faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, indicated his willingness to return to the camp of TMC leader Mamata Banerjee.

Adhikari described Rahman as a "mafia" and a "goon", while accusing successive Left Front and TMC governments of allowing land belonging to Adivasis and members of the Sanatan Hindu community to be encroached upon.

He directed officials to identify such properties and initiate measures for their recovery. The allegations against Rahman remain accusations made by the Chief Minister and have not been established through the reported proceedings.

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁'𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

Adhikari said the measures announced during his visit reflected the ideological commitments of the BJP-led state government.

Invoking Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor of the BJP, he asserted that national interests would remain central to his administration.

"This government has been formed on the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The nation comes first," he said.

His visit to Uttar Dinajpur brought together several politically sensitive issues, including citizenship for refugees, border management, alleged encroachment and rivalries within the opposition TMC.