Kolkata: Security agencies at both central and state levels have pinpointed certain isolated islands in West Bengal’s Sundarban region as likely safe havens for Bangladeshi infiltrators illegally crossing into India.
Reports indicate that 13 particularly vulnerable islands in the Gosaba block of South 24 Parganas district were identified due to their limited security measures, attributed to their remoteness. The Sundarban area is located near the Bangladesh border.
Currently, the Border Security Force (BSF) has a presence on only one of these islands, which are frequently used as temporary shelters by local fishermen who venture into deeper waters for fishing.
This situation makes the islands attractive for illegal Bangladeshi entrants, who often pose as local fishermen upon arrival. They initially take refuge on these islands, obtain counterfeit Indian documents, and then integrate into the local population, eventually reaching Kolkata.
Another factor contributing to these islands’ appeal for infiltrators is their quick access to Kolkata via the Basanti Expressway.
In response to this issue, security agencies have intensified surveillance along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Bangladesh, anticipating illegal crossings by Bangladeshi citizens, including members of underground groups that have become more active amid ongoing unrest in Bangladesh.
This heightened surveillance follows two recent incidents: the interception of two Bangladeshi vessels for illegally crossing into Indian waters and intelligence reports suggesting that members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HUT) are attempting to establish sleeper cells in the bordering districts of West Bengal.