Kolkata, 02 July (H.S.): The West Bengal government has claimed to have initiated a series of measures to tackle the issues of alleged illegal infiltration and demographic changes in the state. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that a high-level meeting with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs will be held in New Delhi in July to strengthen coordination between the Centre and the state on the issue.

The Chief Minister said the meeting will be attended by the state's Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and other senior officials, while he himself will also participate. He added that the state government would work jointly with the Centre in accordance with the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to Adhikari, the first phase of the exercise has already been completed. He claimed that over the past 45 days, the state had transferred the required land to the Border Security Force (BSF) and established 12 holding stations along the border. Through these facilities, around 10,000 alleged infiltrators have been sent back following the prescribed procedure, while nearly 1,500 people are currently being housed at these holding stations.

He further stated that police stations in border areas, in coordination with the BSF, are identifying suspected infiltrators and sending them to holding stations instead of jail, from where the process of repatriation is being carried out as per protocol. He also said that names removed from the electoral rolls are being reviewed.

The Chief Minister also announced that a digital caste census will commence on August 1, with the final results scheduled to be released at midnight on February 28, 2027. He said the census would include a self-declaration mechanism and claimed that the exercise would provide accurate data, enabling more effective action against alleged illegal infiltration and bringing greater clarity to the demographic situation.

Meanwhile, a high-level committee constituted by the Central Government to study demographic changes is expected to visit West Bengal and several other states shortly. Ahead of the visit, members of the committee met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence on Wednesday.

According to sources, the committee has prepared a detailed questionnaire to gather information from the state government, administrative authorities and other concerned officials. It will assess demographic changes, alleged illegal infiltration and their social and economic impact across the states it visits.

The issue of alleged illegal infiltration and demographic changes has remained a major subject of political debate in West Bengal for several years and featured prominently during the recent Assembly election campaign. Against this backdrop, the proposed visit of the high-level committee and the upcoming Centre-state meeting are being viewed as politically significant developments.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh