Updated 29 July 2024 at 14:58 IST
Bengaluru: A month-long investigation by Republic TV has uncovered a massive Bangladeshi infiltration racket spanning from Kolkata to Bengaluru and Rae Bareli. The month-long probe revealed detailed crossover plans, routes, and bribes. Infiltrators speaking on camera admitted to paying between Rs 2,000 and Rs 20,000 to enter India. They also implicated the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in facilitating their entry and named agents within India who assist in transporting them from the Assam or Bengal borders to Bengaluru.
Speaking on camera, the infiltrators admitted to traveling from Khulna, Bangladesh's third-largest city, to Bengaluru. They spoke about finding employment in India's IT capital, with some even securing jobs with the civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), often working late-night shifts and odd jobs.
Some infiltrators working as garbage pickers were seen confessing on camera that they were Bangladeshis, paying Rs 4,000-5,000 to cross into India. Another infiltrator mentioned that while some enter with passports, others come "in black," meaning they pay the BDR to facilitate their entry. He explained, “We are poor workers who came here for work, so we just pay around Rs 2,000.”
Local residents expressed concern over the situation, noting that these Bangladeshi infiltrators often seek jobs in areas with labor shortages, working for lower wages. While Indian labourers typically demand Rs 1,000 per day, Bangladeshi workers accept Rs 200-300. They are employed in coffee estates, agriculture, as delivery boys, rag pickers, and garbage collectors.
Meanwhile, the exact number of infiltrators remains unknown, raising alarm. Karnataka police officials estimate that the Bangladeshi population in the state could be between 4-5 lakhs, with some even possessing Aadhaar and voter ID cards.
In response to the investigation, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “I will look into that issue and get back to it.” Meanwhile, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara stated, “We are continuously monitoring the situation. If we find any illegal migrants, we will arrest them and deport them. This applies not only to those from Bangladesh but to any foreigner residing here without valid documents.”
This incident came at a time when the state government is considering legislation to ensure 70% of jobs are reserved for Kannadigas.
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has uncovered another racket involving 20,000 fake resident certificates linked to Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators. The ATS is calling it a conspiracy to grant Indian citizenship.
Even, the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued an SOS regarding the changing demographics. Earlier on July 18, CM Sarma said “Changing demography is a big issue for me. In Assam, Muslim population has reached 40% today. In 1951, it was 12%. We have lost many districts. This is not a political issue for me. It is a matter of life and death for me”, said Sarma.
Speaking to Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami, Sarma said, "The demographic changes are happening rapidly in Assam, Tripura, and Bengal. The Hindu community has become a minority in 12 to 14 districts in Assam".
This isn't the first instance of the Assam CM making explicit comments about a specific religion or community. On July 1, Sarma expressed concern about criminal activities linked to individuals from a particular religion, though he did not specify any community. He clarified that his remarks were not intended to imply that crime is exclusive to any single religion, but noted that recent incidents since the Lok Sabha elections were alarming.
Earlier, on June 23, Sarma alleged that members of the Bangladeshi minority community had voted for Congress in the elections, ignoring the development efforts by BJP-led governments at both the state and national levels. He also claimed that this minority community was distinct in Assam for its involvement in communalism.
Published 29 July 2024 at 14:56 IST