West Bengal politics heated up on Thursday over the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that the Border Security Force (BSF) is facilitating the entry of infiltrators and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused her government of hindering efforts to acquire land for construction of BSF outposts along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Holding a mega administrative review meeting, Banerjee accused the BSF of allowing infiltration from Bangladesh to destabilise West Bengal. Moreover, she alleged that the BSF was acting in accordance with a “blueprint” of the Central government.

‘BSF is fuelling terror’

“The BSF is facilitating the entry of infiltrators. We have news that people are entering Bengal through Islampur, Sitai and Chopra. The border is in the hands of the BSF. They are allowing infiltration through many border areas. This is a part of the Central government’s blueprint. This is to disturb my State and malign the Trinamool Congress,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

“Miscreants are crossing the borders illegally and entering the state. BSF is enabling this. If we see that anyone is trying to fuel terror activities in Bengal to disturb the state, then we would have to protest,” she added.

Hitting back at Banerjee over the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said it was time to stop “dilly-dallying” by the State government on the land acquisition process to construct BSF outposts to secure the Indo-Bangladesh border.

‘Improve co-ordination’

“Border fencing is necessary for preventing infiltration. But, for around 600 km there is no fences along the border. They (State government) should allot land for fencing. Ask them to allot land for 17 BSF outposts. The land has not been allotted so far. They should also allot land for setting up 11 BSF camps,” Adhikari told reporters here.

“The State government should increase co-ordination between the police and BSF. In 2023, Central government agencies had arrested around 1500 intruders, and around 1400 of them were released on bail. Last year BSF detained 1000 Bangladeshis, while 900 of them were released,” the BJP leader said.

Notably, suspected terrorists have recently been arrested from West Bengal. Following that the ruling the Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP have been engaged in a war of words. While the TMC is holding the Centre responsible for “terrorists infiltrating” in the state, BJP is blaming the state government for making the state a “safe haven” for such elements.