Kolkata, May 28: The newly elected West Bengal government’s intensified focus on identifying and deporting illegal immigrants has reportedly led to a surge in movement at the Hakimpur border checkpost in North 24 Parganas, where hundreds of people have gathered in recent days seeking to return to Bangladesh.
According to local administrative sources, more than 200 Bangladeshi nationals are currently being housed in holding centres in the Hakimpur region as authorities carry out verification processes before initiating legal deportation procedures.
The Hakimpur border area has emerged as a key transit point amid the government’s “Detect, Delete and Deport” campaign. Officials say many individuals arriving at the border have been transferred directly to holding centres, while some families have been temporarily sheltering in unfinished structures near the checkpost.
Several individuals interviewed at the border claimed they had been living and working in different parts of West Bengal for years and possessed Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, ration cards and voter identity cards.
Some of them alleged that local political workers had assisted them in obtaining these documents. These claims have not been independently verified.
A woman identifying herself as a resident of Khulna in Bangladesh claimed she had lived in the Dum Dum area and received benefits under various welfare schemes. Another individual from Jashore alleged he had resided in India for nearly a decade and participated in elections before his name was reportedly removed from voter rolls.
Others present at the border also claimed they had entered India through informal channels after paying money to intermediaries or “dalals” operating near the border.
The developments have reignited political debate over illegal immigration and voter identity documentation in West Bengal. Opposition parties have long accused previous administrations of failing to address infiltration concerns, while political leaders continue to exchange allegations over the issue.
Authorities have not yet released official figures regarding the total number of people being processed under the current verification drive. However, officials indicated that deportation proceedings will be conducted in accordance with existing legal provisions after identity verification is completed.
The situation at Hakimpur remains under close watch as security agencies and local administration continue monitoring movement along the border.