Kolkata, Nov. 9 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, while spending Diwali afternoon with Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in North 24-Parganas' Hingalganj, said his government would send back infiltrators the same way they try to enter India.
Attacking the previous TMC government for non-cooperation with the BSF, Adhikari said that a wonderful coordination has been achieved between the West Bengal police and the BSF under his government.
He further added that infiltrators were lurking across the border and trying to enter India. The Chief Minister also claimed that lakhs of infiltrators have been pushed back into Bangladesh after the BJP came to power.
"We will search infiltrators and send them back from the very same way they are coming. Search will go on for 15 kilometres from the border," Adhikari said. The BJP government came to power in West Bengal on the promise of pushing back infiltrators.
"As the chief minister of the state, I apologise to you for the derogatory remarks and behaviour of the previous regime towards BSF and CRPF," he added. After touring the area on a BSF speedboat in the Ichhamati River, Adhikari said that he could see no fencing on the Bangladesh side and infiltrators lurking along the border. "Bangladeshis are there. If they find a gap, they will enter India in a hurry," he said.
Ichhamati River serves as a border between India and Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister said that most issues have been sorted and land for erecting fencing along Ichhamati has been given. State Irrigation and Waterways department will construct the fencing along the 71-kilometre stretch of the river, the Chief Minister stated.
He also said that his government will introduce 'Seema Mitra' award for the BSF, the SSB and State police personnel from 2027 to recognise their exceptional work related to guarding the country's border.
He said a selection committee will be set up to decide the awardees from the forces.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.