A special holding centre in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district has become the focus of an ongoing anti-infiltration operation after 26 Bangladeshi nationals were detained and brought to the facility as part of a statewide verification drive. Authorities say the individuals were identified during recent enforcement operations targeting illegal immigration and are currently being housed at a secured centre in Phatapukur under Rajganj block.

According to administrative sources, the detainees were transported from the Islampur region of North Dinajpur district on Thursday. The group includes 15 women and seven children, prompting officials to balance security measures with humanitarian considerations while legal and identity verification procedures continue.

The development comes amid intensified efforts by state and central agencies to identify individuals allegedly residing in India without valid documentation and to verify their citizenship status through established legal procedures.

Detainees Shifted from North Dinajpur

Officials said the group was brought to the Phatapukur holding centre following a verification exercise conducted in parts of North Bengal. Preliminary findings suggest that the individuals may have entered India illegally several years ago and had subsequently settled in different areas of West Bengal.

Administrative sources indicated that many of those detained were reportedly engaged in informal occupations, including daily wage labour, painting work, and rickshaw pulling. Authorities are currently examining documents and conducting identity verification to establish the exact circumstances of their stay in the country.

The verification process is expected to determine the next course of legal action.

Security Measures Strengthened

Security around the holding centre has been significantly enhanced following the arrival of the detainees. The facility has been secured with high barricades, while surveillance systems have been installed to monitor activities within and around the premises.

Officials confirmed that CCTV cameras are operational throughout the facility and that access remains strictly controlled. Police personnel, civic volunteers, and central security forces have been deployed round the clock to maintain law and order.

Authorities said the enhanced security arrangements are intended to ensure the safe management of the facility while legal proceedings remain underway.

Focus on Women and Children

With a significant number of women and children among those detained, officials have emphasized that adequate arrangements have been made to meet their basic needs.

According to administrative sources, accommodation, food, sanitation facilities, and essential services are being provided inside the holding centre. Authorities have stated that special attention is being given to vulnerable individuals while they remain under administrative supervision.

The detainees are expected to stay at the centre until verification procedures and related legal formalities are completed.

Verification and Legal Process Underway

Officials have not yet announced a final decision regarding the future status of the detainees. However, sources indicated that the matter is being handled in accordance with applicable laws and established procedures governing foreign nationals and border management.

Identity verification remains the primary focus at this stage. Authorities are examining documents, conducting background checks, and coordinating with relevant agencies before determining any further action.

Administrative officials stressed that all steps will be taken in accordance with legal requirements and due process.

Possible Coordination with Border Agencies

Sources familiar with the process indicated that, following completion of verification, coordination with border management authorities could take place if required under existing legal frameworks.

The Border Security Force (BSF) may become involved in subsequent stages depending on the outcome of identity checks and administrative review. Officials, however, have not issued any formal statement regarding future transfers or repatriation-related procedures.

Public Interest and Administrative Response

The development has drawn attention from local residents, particularly given the heightened security presence around the holding centre. Authorities have appealed to the public to avoid speculation and rely only on official information regarding the case.

The Phatapukur facility has emerged as an important administrative centre during the ongoing anti-infiltration drive, reflecting broader efforts by government agencies to verify the status of suspected foreign nationals and maintain updated records.

Amit Shah Vows BJP Rule in Assam and Bengal to Curb Infiltrators

Union Home Minister targets Congress over alleged failure to check illegal immigration, sharpens attack on Rahul Gandhi amid Assam poll heat

Amit Shah on Infiltrators  

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted that a BJP government in Assam and West Bengal would effectively curb and remove illegal infiltrators, protecting local livelihoods and the state's demographic identity. Addressing a rally in Patharkandi, Sribhumi district of Assam, Shah accused the Congress of sheltering infiltrators in the past and turning parts of the region into a haven for them.

Poll Campaign Enters Final Phase  

With public campaigning for the April 9 Assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry scheduled to end later on Tuesday, followed by a 48-hour silence period, Shah's remarks carried added weight. The Election Commission has imposed restrictions under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, banning rallies, processions, and public meetings from 5 pm Tuesday until polling concludes. Similar curbs apply to other poll-bound states.Sharp Attack on Congress  

Shah directly targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, claiming the party's standards had declined under his leadership. He criticised recent statements by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who had reportedly called BJP-supporting states "illiterate." Shah defended Assam's legacy, citing leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Vikram Sarabhai, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Congress should be ashamed," he said, according to reports from the rally.

The Home Minister claimed that infiltrators had already been identified in Assam and vowed systematic action to weed them out. "We will not let Assam become an infiltrator-dominated region," Shah declared, adding that infiltration would stop completely if BJP-led governments were in power in Assam, West Bengal, and Tripura. He linked the issue to local concerns over jobs, rations, and land.

Parallel Row Involving Himanta Sarma  

The day's developments in Assam were dominated by a separate but intense political row. Assam Police conducted searches at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday morning in connection with an FIR filed by the wife of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Khera had alleged on Sunday that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma held passports of three countries — Egypt, Antigua and Barbuda, and the UAE. He also raised questions over alleged overseas assets.

Sarma dismissed the claims as baseless and politically motivated. He warned of defamation proceedings and suggested the case could extend to Rahul Gandhi, whom he accused of backing Khera. In strong remarks, Sarma said Assam Police could "hunt down" Khera even from "pataal" and referred to historical resistance against "Islamic invasion." Congress leaders, including Ashok Gehlot, hit back, alleging the BJP was misusing police machinery out of panic ahead of the polls. Khera was reportedly not present at his Nizamuddin residence during the search, with some reports indicating he had moved to Hyderabad.

Border Restrictions for Polling  

In a related development, authorities closed movement along parts of the India-Bhutan border in Tamulpur district to ensure free and fair polling on April 9. Only essential travel, medical emergencies, and registered voters in specific constituencies were exempted. Markets like Dadgiri-Hatisar were also shut as a precautionary measure.

Background of Infiltration Debate  

Illegal immigration from Bangladesh has long been a contentious issue in Assam, shaping politics for decades. The BJP has positioned itself as the party that ended fresh infiltration through measures like the National Register of Citizens and peace accords with insurgent groups. Shah highlighted the Centre's efforts, including mainstreaming over 11,000 youth who surrendered arms via agreements with Bodoland and ULFA factions. Critics from the Congress side have accused the BJP of selective enforcement and polarisation.Impact on Assam Voters  

The twin narratives — Shah's focus on national security and the local passport controversy — have intensified campaigning in the final hours. Assam goes to polls in a single phase on April 9 across 126 constituencies, with results expected on May 4. Issues of identity, development, and governance are dominating discourse. Migrant workers returning home ahead of polls signal high voter turnout expectations.

Opposition parties, including Congress and regional outfits like AJP, have raised concerns over alleged misuse of agencies and demanded a level playing field. BJP leaders, meanwhile, project confidence, with Chief Minister Sarma claiming the party was headed for a comfortable victory.

What Lies Ahead  

As the silence period begins, all eyes will be on polling day arrangements and voter turnout. The infiltration debate is likely to echo in post-poll analysis, especially if results in Assam and later phases in West Bengal reflect shifting public priorities. Political observers note that the BJP is banking on its record of border management and development initiatives, while the Congress is attempting to frame the election around governance and personal allegations.

The coming days will test how these issues translate into votes in a state where demographic concerns have historically influenced electoral outcomes.