Bangladeshi migrants pose threat to internal security: Report

Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, present in "large" numbers across the country, pose a grave threat to India's internal security, a Parliamentary panel has noted.

"A large presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants poses a grave threat to the internal security and it should be viewed strongly," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs said in its latest report.

The committee, headed by Sushma Swaraj, also said in its 46-page report that counterfeit notes were in large circulation along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

"The committee strongly recommends that movement along the border may be strictly monitored," the report on Demands for Grants of the Home Ministry said.

The report pointed out that the porous Indo-Bangla border and the practical difficulties due to topographical reasons acting as impediments in the timely completion of border works projects were reasons behind "influx" of illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

It has been reported that these illegal migrants have been able to secure ration cards, driving licences, voter identity cards and even PAN cards, the report said.

It also quoted media reports, citing intelligence sources, as saying that terrorist groups have been recruiting Bangladeshis in India.

Reports have appeared that certain Bangladeshi insurgent groups have been involved in terrorist incidents in India, the report said.

To prevent the illegal immigration, the Union Home Ministry has taken various measures like construction of border fencing, flood lighting and roads to enable more effective patrolling, the Parliamentary panel said.

Assignment of border guarding duties on the Indo-Bangladesh border to a single force, Border Sesurity Force, augmentation of its strength through additional battalions, reduction of gaps between border outposts, and provision of modern surveillance and other equipment and gadgetry to BSF are some other steps.

The Home Ministry has also been issuing instructions to state governments and Union Territories from time to time to take sustained action to detect foreign nationals, including Bangladeshi nationals, staying illegally in the country.

As many as 32 Foreign Tribunals under the provisions of the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, have also been constituted in Assam for detention of illegal migrants and foreigners.

The issue of illegal migrants from Bangladesh also figured prominently in the just-concluded talks between the heads of Border Security Force and Bangladesh Rifles in Delhi.