Bangladeshi infiltration: ED conducts searches in poll-bound Jharkhand, West Bengal

The Enforcement Directorate is conducting searches at multiple locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal in connection with a probe into alleged illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals. The searches come close to the heels of polling for the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly election and West Bengal bypolls.

According to officials, the raids are being conducted at 17 locations in West Bengal and Jharkhand. The money laundering case being probed by the central agency pertains to the alleged trafficking and infiltration of Bangladeshi women into Jharkhand, leading to the generation of alleged slush funds. The ED case stems from a case registered by Jharkhand police based on the complaint of a woman who illegally migrated to India from the neighbouring country.

The woman alleged she was trafficked along with six other women into the country by touts promising work at beauty salons in India. Allegedly, they were trafficked into the country for prostitution.

 Police have registered the case under multiple sections including 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 34 (common intention). Jharkhand police have also slapped section 12 of the Passport Act (knowingly furnishing any false information or suppressing any material information with a view to obtaining a passport or travel document) and 14A of the Foreigners Act (penalty for entry in restricted area) in the complaint, PTI reported.

Infiltration was one of the major issues the Bharatiya Janata Party raised during campaigning for assembly polls in Jharkhand. Recently, during a poll campaign in the state, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said they will set up a separate panel to identify infiltrators in the state. “Tribal population is declining in Jharkhand. Infiltrators are grabbing land by marrying our daughters. We will bring legislation to prevent the transfer of land to infiltrators if they marry tribal women. We will also form a committee to identify infiltrators to drive them out and reclaim land grabbed by them," PTI reported quoting Shah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also accused the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the state of turning a blind eye towards illegal infiltration in the state. Modi said infiltration is altering the demographic landscape of the tribal-dominated areas of Santhal Pargana and Kolhan regions. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also accused the state government of turning Jharkhand into a 'dharmashala' for Rohingyas and Bangladeshi infiltrators. Polling will be conducted in 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand on Wednesday.