Illegal migration to Bangladesh up by 50% in 2018: NCRB
NEWDELHI: The number of people caught while trying to cross over to Bangladesh from India increased by more than 50%, with a total of 2,971 people arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2018, as compared to 1,800 in 2017, revealed the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). A large number of those who were caught trying to illegally emigrate were women and children.
NCRB’S ‘Crime in India 2018’ report says that of the 2,971 people arrested in 2018 while making an “outward movement” to Bangladesh, 1,532 were men, 749 women and 690 children. The corresponding numbers were 1,477, 268 and 55 in 2017.
On the other hand, “inward movement” from Bangladesh came down marginally to 1,118 in 2018 in comparison to 1,180 in 2017. NCRB data does not explain the motive of those arrested by BSF, which manages the international borders in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Assam.
The bureau started compiling data on people caught while crossing over from the different borders in 2017.
The numbers come at a time when the second draft list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam was released on July 30, 2018. There were reports at the time of widespread fears in the region that those not included in the list would cross over to Bangladesh.
The final draft list, which excluded 1.9 million people, was published last year on July 31. Subir Bhaumik, an author and Bangladesh expert said that the data does not surprise him.
“A definite reverse migration is happening to Bangladesh because of primarily two reasons – a fear factor generated by NRC post-assam, followed by repeated statements by BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leaders that such an exercise would be conducted all over India. Secondly, Bangladesh’s economy today is in much better position and there is uncertainty in India. Those who came to India in the 1970s and 1980s have better opportunities in Bangladesh. Why would they risk being beaten up and called illegal immigrants when they can respectfully work in their country?” Bhaumik said, adding that the 2019 figure may be even higher.
Earlier this month, Border Guard Bangladesh’s (BGB) director-general, Major General Md Shafeenul Islam, said 445 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested while crossing over from India.
“The number of people trying to cross over is not alarming, but has definitely increased. It will be difficult to assess how many of these people have actually tried to leave the country – either on their own as they wanted to emigrate to Bangladesh or through trafficking networks,” said a senior BSF official posted at a section of Indiabangladesh border, who did not wish to be named.
NEW DELHI: After a controversy erupted over his remarks that people in Kashmir only use Internet for “watching dirty films”, NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat on Sunday said he was quoted “out of context” and apologised if it has hurt anyone’s feelings.
“I said ‘Yes internet is required and I respect the feeling of all Kashmiris in this regard that they should be provided internet and agree with the fact that they should have the freedom’. But sometimes governments have to take action... Then...we were talking about many other things. And from many other things, they picked up all this nonsense. I have been misquoted...if it has hurt the feelings of people of Kashmir or anybody for that matter, I apologise for that,” he told the Press Trust of India (PTI).
He made the remarks in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar on Saturday after attending the convocation of the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology.
I have been misquoted... if it has hurt the feelings of people of Kashmir or anybody else for that matter, I apologise for the comment. VK SARASWAT , Niti Aayog member