Government adopts zero-infiltration approach against Rohingyas

KOLKATA: Even as the Rohingya migrant crisis is snowballing into a massive political issue, the central government is sealing every possible entry point to stem infiltration into India, especially at a time when the Mamata Banerjee government is known to be sympathetic to the migrant issue.

The Centre, which has taken a rigid and inflexible stand to curb this infiltration, has sent a circular to various central and state police agencies, instructing them to maintain a vigil on all mosques, unregistered madrassas, houses of “sympathisers”, stations and flag halts located along the bordering districts. The agencies have been asked to conduct Intelligence-based operations at suspected locations.

While Bengal, Assam, Manipur and Mizoram have been identified as having the most vulnerable border points, Mamata Banerjee’s stand of not antagonising her minority vote-bank continues to be a matter of concern for the agencies. Banerjee’s statements on Rohingyas have also not gone down well with the Modi government.

Infact, Bengal has witnessed the maximum number of protest rallies and public meetings by Muslim organisations in Kolkata and the outskirts demanding asylum for Rohingyas with tacit support from the ruling Trinamool Congress.



Banerjee’s f irst tweet on Rohingyas gives a clear indication of her party’s stand on the issue. “We do support UN appeal to help the Rohingya people. We believe that all commoners are not terrorists. We are really concerned,” she tweeted a few days back. On Monday, she yet again said that the Centre has directed the state government to “deport” all Rohingya children, to the several homes in Bengal. “However, the committees for children and other concerned institutions are not willing to do so. Terrorists should be dealt strictly, but all commoners are not terrorists. I too believe that humanity shouldn’t be compromised for anything,” added Banerjee.

Incidentally, the Bengal government had started distributing NHRC cards to Rohingyas lodged in prisons and government homes, though it was stopped later.

The law enforcement agencies have evidence of Rohingyas entering the country through border points in Bengal and Moreh in Manipur. On Saturday, BSF intercepted four Rohingya s, all in their early 20s near Hakimpur. All of them were sent back, a senior official said. This is the second such incident. In a similar incident, BSF apprehended three Rohingyas while they were trying to cross over to India. In 2016, BSF apprehended 26 Rohingya Muslims .