Hindutva groups in Maharashtra demand identification, deportation of Bangladeshi infiltrators

Mumbai: Right-wing groups Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) and Sanatan Sanstha (SS) in Maharashtra have stepped up their campaign to identify Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators and make efforts to deport them.

As part of the drive, they have called upon the Centre and State governments to launch 'Bangladeshi Infiltrators Search Campaign,' a pan-India operation to get rid of the issue of intruders.

“Bangladeshi infiltrators have spread across multiple states in the country, posing a serious threat to national security. This has led to increasing social instability, rising crime rates, employment issues, and a widespread racket of individuals residing on forged documents. Given the situation, we have initiated this drive before the entire country turns into a scenario like West Bengal or Assam,” the HJS and SS said on Monday.

HJS spokesperson Satish Kochrekar said that to raise awareness, they plan to organize protests, rallies, signature campaigns, and file police complaints nationwide.

Kochrekar, SS spokesperson Abhay Vartak, and Rahul Patkar - an advocate who appears in Bombay High Court - addressed a news conference in Mumbai, making the demand.

"Hundreds of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators have been arrested in several urban areas across the country. It is estimated that more than 8 to 10 lakh illegal infiltrators reside in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai alone. This situation is the same across the country. In reality, these figures are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Vartak.

“Bangladeshi infiltration is a severe national security concern, and it is crucial to uproot it completely. The nationwide campaign must involve search and combing operations in all districts, cities, and towns to identify and apprehend infiltrators. Strict action must be taken against the racket involved in producing fake identity documents. House owners must thoroughly verify tenants before renting out properties, and employers must conduct proper background checks before hiring workers. If any suspicion arises, it must be reported to the police immediately. Anyone providing shelter, bail, or any form of assistance to infiltrators must be charged with treason,” added Vartak.

They also highlighted that a Bangladeshi intruder Shariful Islam has been arrested for the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan.

"Bangladeshi infiltrators are taking away employment opportunities from Indian citizens. In Sillod, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, over one lakh Bangladeshi infiltrators were shockingly issued fake certificates. In Chiplun, Ratnagiri, out of 13 Bangladeshi nationals, only three were arrested, and even in those cases, poor handling by the police resulted in them getting bail, which is a grave issue. The judiciary granting bail to Bangladeshi infiltrators is nothing less than a mockery of the legal system,” added Patkar.