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The security and administrative gaps along the India–Bangladesh border that enable illegal migration require an urgent look
Image Source: Getty
The question of the influx of illegal migrants, especially Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, is a constant source of worry for India. A large number of such illegal migrants are found across the country, depriving the locals of resources and impacting the population composition.
The influx of illegal immigrants, amongst other factors, is closely linked to the level of vigilance on our borders. This paper aims to highlight the challenges and suggest measures to enhance border security to control illegal migration.
Despite widespread belief that there is a large number of illegal migrants in India, authentic data about the magnitude of the problem is not available. Varying claims have been made about the number of illegal migrants in India, estimating a range from 12 million to 20 million illegal Bangladeshis staying in India. However, these claims have been fact-checked and found to be highly exaggerated.
The higher-than-average rate of growth of population in the bordering districts of India with Bangladesh is also widely attributed to the phenomenon of illegal migration from Bangladesh.
In response to a starred question number 225 in Lok Sabha by Malikarjun Kharge, then Minister of State of Home Affairs, Kiran Rijiju stated that “Illegal immigrants are those who enter the country without valid travel documents in a clandestine and surreptitious manner. As such, there is no accurate data with regard to their number in the country.” However, later on 16 November 2016, in reply to an unstarred question No 55 by MP Jharna Das Baidya in Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Home gave the figure of “20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants staying in India”. A part of the reply to that question, “There are reports of Bangladeshi nationals having entered the country without valid travel documents. Since entry of such Bangladeshi nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to have accurate data of such Bangladeshi nationals living in various parts of the country. As per available inputs, there are around 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants staying in India.”
Notwithstanding the confusion surrounding the number of illegal migrants in India, their presence can be seen at many places, especially, the low-end, unskilled job market of domestic helpers and maids. The higher-than-average rate of growth of population in the bordering districts of India with Bangladesh is also widely attributed to the phenomenon of illegal migration from Bangladesh.
Illegal migration?
The question, therefore, is how illegal migrants are entering India via the India–Bangladesh borders despite it being guarded by a centrally controlled Border Security Force and supposedly fortified with an impregnable fence?
While in theory, the border guarding systems along the 4096-km-long India–Bangladesh border are extremely robust and no one should be able to enter illegally, a deeper analysis reveals several loopholes exploited by illegal entrants and their accomplices.
The similarity in physical appearance, language, and culture between people on both sides of the border with Bangladesh makes it difficult to distinguish between an Indian national and a Bangladeshi. This challenge is compounded by longstanding familial ties of people from both sides existing for generations and continuing even now due to the porous nature of the border. Nearly 25 percent of the border, which is mostly riverine, cannot be fenced and therefore, is easy for illegal entrants to exploit. It is difficult to keep this portion of the border under continuous surveillance in spite of the best efforts of the water wing. Advanced technology being tried through the deployment of the Coordinated Border Management System (CIBMS) for domination of the riverine area in the Brahmaputra River is still a long way from being installed to cover the entire riverine stretches. The weather conditions in the area lead to early deterioration of the fence, thus creating gaps which can be exploited by illegal immigrants and criminals.
Advanced technology being tried through the deployment of the Coordinated Border Management System (CIBMS) for domination of the riverine area in the Brahmaputra River is still a long way from being installed to cover the entire riverine stretches.
Managing 164 villages located between the fence and the International Border with Bangladesh is difficult. Many of these villages and even houses located right on the border share communal infrastructure such as mosques and footpaths with counterparts across the border.. It is not possible to either establish a Border out Post (BOP) in these villages, nor is it possible to deploy 24-hour patrols to keep continuous surveillance over residents of these villages. This vulnerability is exploited by Bangladeshi nationals to cross over, obtain fake Indian identity papers and merge with the population after crossing the fence. BSF troops deployed on fence gates to regulate exit and entry through them do not have any means available to confirm their identity. It is, therefore, essential that all residents of these border villages be issued proper Indian identity documents.
Several touts operate in the border area to prepare fake Indian identity papers for the illegal entrants. It is important to identify the network of touts involved in supplying them these fake Indian identity papers to put a stop to their activities. It is also necessary to equip and train BSF troops deployed at fence gates to verify the genuineness of Aadhaar and other identity papers of people crossing over through the fence gates. These actions will certainly go a long way in detecting and preventing illegal migrants from entering India.
It is important to identify the network of touts involved in supplying them these fake Indian identity papers to put a stop to their activities.
The BSF currently relies on a manpower-intensive border management model, which requires review and modernisation. The men on the ground are overburdened with long duty hours, sometimes extending to more than 14/15 hours every day. Such extended hours of duty tire out the troops, leading to laxity. The technology presently in use in border guarding has not succeeded in improving the situation and bringing about a better work-life balance. It is therefore important that the leaders of BSF look for technology which, besides ensuring better vigil, also ensures that the troops get adequate rest to enable them to perform their duties effectively.
Internal security is inextricably linked to the strength and consistency of security at the borders. Repeated withdrawal of troops for various duties in the interior for prolonged periods leads to dilution of vigil and thus compromises national security. For example, the withdrawal of 140 companies (equal to 20 battalions i.e. one-tenth of the entire strength of BSF) from the border for deployment in Manipur and withdrawal of a similar number for the smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra till about end of August, leaves large stretches of the border vulnerable to illegal immigrants and criminal elements. The quantum of troops withdrawn and the duration of their absence from the border must be rationalised. Consider the recent withdrawal of nearly 50 percent of BSF troops from the eastern border for over three months during the 2024 Parliamentary elections, besides the withdrawal of one-third troops for assembly elections in 2021. The large-scale involvement of troops for the commemoration of 50 years of independence of Bangladesh must be analysed, and alternative ways found to ensure constant vigil.
The large-scale involvement of troops for the commemoration of 50 years of independence of Bangladesh must be analysed, and alternative ways found to ensure constant vigil.
While the government has its compulsions and can deploy forces for various duties outside its core function, such deployment should be resorted to only when necessary. The necessity of withdrawing troops from the border for Parliamentary and State Assembly elections, perhaps, is unavoidable, but their withdrawal for elections to lower elected bodies like Panchayat, District Development Council (2018 and 2020 in J&K) or Tribal Council elections (Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council 2021 and earlier) is avoidable. The local police, armed police battalions, as well as Indian reserve battalions available in each state, must be adequately empowered for these tasks.
The Group of Ministers report after the Kargil conflict had made a recommendation of “One Task, One Force”, mandating that border guarding should be the responsibility of specialised border guarding forces, while the CRPF was designated the Internal Security force of the country with a mandate to assist the authorities in ensuring Internal Security. Therefore, in the normal course, all internal security-related tasks should be carried out by the CRPF. However, CRPF alone is inadequate to deal with the myriad problems that a vast country like India faces, and hence, the government is compelled to withdraw border guarding forces to deal with them.
The policy planners must therefore focus on empowering and strengthening resources available so that the need to withdraw forces from borders does not arise, to prevent anti-nationals from exploiting the situation. Ensuring proper border security is extremely important to ensure internal security.
Sanjiv Krishan Sood is a retired Additional Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF).
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Sanjiv Krishan Sood retired as Additional Director General Border Security Forces BSF.
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