Under the newly elected West Bengal government, Border security along the India-Bangladesh border is under top surveillance. This has brought relief to villages from infiltration in North Bengal's borders.
Villagers said that recent land handover to the Border Security Force has improved safety, as the long-pending demands of land accessibility and navigating the river that flows through the border are over. West Bengal government is taking efforts for the construction of border fencing infrastructure and BSF outposts. 142.9 acres of land across multiple borders of West Bengal, including Dinajpur, Malda, North 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Murshidabad, Nadia, Uttar Dinajpur, have all been handed over to the Border Security Force.
35.165 acres of Jalpaiguri, 38.805 acres of Murshidabad, while 22.95 acres of Cooch Behar land is handed to the Border Security Force. 600 acres of land is unfenced till now. West Bengal government has fulfilled the promise of strengthening the Bangladesh border, said Amit Shah, Union Home Minister. Amit Shah also referred to West Bengal's initiative "detect, delete and deport" policy against illegal infiltration.
386 people are being held in holding centers across bordering districts in West Bengal. The highest number of infiltrations is being reported at the Basirhat police district, and the detainees include 109 women, 182 males and 95 kids. This is under the new West Bengal policy of detect, delete and deport Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.
Sohan Devi, a resident near the border, said she had to protect her home and kids from Bangladeshis who used to smuggle cattle in the area. Villagers residing near the border in West Bengal want to be safe from illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.
Some of the villagers near the border said that Bangladeshis would carry weapons and smuggle cattle. We are ready to give land for national security, but we want proper compensation. We will be safe once BSF puts permanent fencing. Many villagers expressed their sentiments, saying the permanent fencing will protect India's border. The recent upgrades of electricity, fencing, and CCTV surveillance have changed, and they believe that the ground conditions are changing.
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