In one of the largest detections this year, the Border Security Force (BSF) has intercepted hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals near the Hakimpur check post along the India–Bangladesh border as they attempted to cross back into Bangladesh. Officials said around 500 individuals were stopped near the Zero Line in a major surge of reverse migration driven by fear of intensified scrutiny of electoral rolls in West Bengal.
According to BSF sources, the group admitted to having entered India illegally over the years and living without valid documents in the suburbs of Kolkata and nearby districts. With the Statewide Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls underway, many reportedly feared identification and subsequent action, prompting the attempt to return home clandestinely.
BSF officials confirmed that none of the detainees possessed passports, visas, or any identity papers. Most said they had been living in India for several years, working in unorganised sectors without legal status.
“This is the largest single batch of suspected undocumented Bangladeshi migrants intercepted so far this year,” a senior BSF officer said.
Following protocols, the BSF has begun collecting basic details, including photographs, fingerprints, and personal information. After documentation, authorities will initiate the formal repatriation process by coordinating with their Bangladeshi counterpart, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Officials said attempts by undocumented migrants to return to Bangladesh have risen sharply in recent weeks, correlating with the ongoing electoral roll verification exercise.
The incident has once again brought attention to the issue of illegal migration, border security, and the broader implications of demographic scrutiny in West Bengal.
