Hundreds of people have gathered at the Hakimpur border in West Bengal’s Basirhat to cross back into Bangladesh, following the implementation of India's "detect, delete, and deport" policy.
The surge at the border comes just two days after the new measures were introduced to crack down on illegal immigration.
Responding to reports of the crowds at the border, West Bengal’s Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, issued a blunt warning to those attempting to stay. "Flee quickly," Adhikari told reporters on Monday during an administrative meeting in Kalyani.
He questioned why state resources should be shared with illegal immigrants, stating, "Why should we give them a share of our food, clothing, and shelter?"
Adhikari emphasized that this is an enforcement of existing laws rather than the introduction of new ones. He clarified that the local police have been instructed not to send these individuals to jail but to hand them over directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) for deportation.
"The Bangladeshi government has taken responsibility for its citizens. It is better for these people to leave," Adhikari added. "Why should they eat, receive medicine, and wear clothes at our country's expense? Are they our sons-in-law? Run away quickly!"
The border situation remains tense as security forces monitor the mass movement of people attempting to exit the country.
