Amid rising India-Bangladesh tension, Bengal CM Mamata says BSF allowing infiltration; BJP counters

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday the Border Security Force (BSF) of easing the entry of infiltrators into India from Bangladesh as the two countries witness a downfall in relations.

“We have got information that the BSF is letting infiltrators enter India through Islampur, Sitai, Chopra and several other bordering areas. The BSF is also torturing people and trying to destabilise the state,” she said according to PTI.

“There is a blueprint of the central government behind this. But goons are entering India. I want peace on both sides of the border. We have a good relationship with neighbouring Bangladesh,” she claimed at an administrative review meeting at the state secretariat.

The Trinamool Congress supremo further said that she has directed DGP Rajeev Kumar to identify where these infiltrators are staying and that she would write a “strong-worded” letter to the BJP-led central government.

BJP responds

BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar said that Banerjee “has reached the ultimate level of delusion” by accusing the BSF of the infiltrations.

“Despite not providing land to set up outposts for border surveillance, she used to blame the Border Security Force for illegal infiltration. But now, crossing all limits of accusations, she has started blaming her own administration’s officials! According to her, the incompetent District Magistrates (DMs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) under her administration are allowing foreign criminals to infiltrate the border to murder the elected representatives of her party,” he said.

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BJP says TMC is blocking border fencing

Meanwhile, another BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal is deliberately stopping border fencing projects along the Bangladesh border and hence endangering national security.

“The West Bengal government is obstructing the land acquisition process to build Border Outposts (BOPs) and fences to secure the border. While the central government is willing to bear all expenses, the state government is deliberately not providing the land,” Adhikari said earlier this week.

Adhikari stated that out of the 456.474 km area along the Indo-Bangladesh border deemed suitable for fencing, land acquisition processes are underway for 284.56 km. This is a crucial measure to prevent infiltration.