WB to set up detention centres for arrested foreigners

West Bengal Government has decided to set up two detention centres for foreigners, who were arrested for criminal activities in the country.

Speaking to DH on Saturday, Correctional Services Minister Ujjwal Biswas said that these detention centres have “nothing to do with NRC” and are being set up solely for keeping foreigners arrested due to criminal activities.

"While one detention centre will have capacity of lodging 60 inmates the other will have 40. These are being set up only for keeping foreigners arrested for criminal activities and have nothing to do with NRC,” said Biswas.

The two detention centres will be set up in New Town on the eastern fringes of Kolkata and Bongaon in North 24 Paraganas district, said Biswas.

While land for the detention centre at New Town has already been identified, the state government is yet to identify land for the one which will be constructed in Bongaon.

The minister pointed out that in 2014, the Centre issued a directive to the state government to set up at least one detention centre for foreigners who are awaiting deportation after serving their sentence.

He also said that it has come to the notice of the state government that lodging foreign nationals with local criminals at same correctional facilities creates several issues due to difference of culture and language.

However, Biswas was unable to specify when the construction of the two detention centres will be complete.

The development comes at a time when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is at loggerheads with the Centre and the BJP over the NRC.

While the state BJP leadership has been claiming that NRC will be conducted in Bengal, Mamata has made it clear several times that she will not allow NRC to be conducted in Bengal.

Panic over NRC has allegedly resulted into 11 people committing suicide in the state.

While the TMC has accused the BJP of spreading panic in Bengal over NRC, the state BJP leadership has denied the charge alleging that the TMC was trying connect any kind of suicide with NRC for political mileage.