30 Bangladeshis deported from Assam during BJP rule
Guwahati: Assam government on Monday said it has instructed all superintendents of police to remain alert and tighten security at all sensitive places in view of the possibility of ISIS recruiting youths from the state.
Replying to a discussion during the zero hour in the assembly, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said all the SPs have been ordered to keep a strict vigil and maintain a close watch on doubtful people.
“Moreover, instruction has been given for tightening security at all sensitive places like railway stations, airports, historical places, temples, dargahs, refineries and shopping malls,” he added. Patowary was replying on behalf of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who also holds the home portfolio, during the zero hour debate raised by BJP MLA Ashok Singhal on possibility of recruitment drive by ISIS in Assam and other parts of the country.
“We have also ordered to strengthen security along Indo-Bangla border and secure the river ways. Police have been strictly asked to maintain close coordination with various intelligence agencies,” he said.
Besides, security and other agencies have been keeping a close watch on social media as these can be tools of influencing youths for joining the global terror outfit, he added. The minister informed the house that two trained members of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were nabbed from Nalbari district. Assam police, he said, has so far arrested 56 JMB extremists after the Burdwan blast in West Bengal in 2014. “Apart from them 10-12 JMB members are absconding at present,” Patowary added without elaborating.
Meanwhile, out of 4,022 persons declared illegal immigrants since the BJP-led government came to power in Assam last year, only 30, who were Bangladeshis, have been deported, the Assembly was informed on Monday.
Replying to a query by Congress MLA Abdul Khaleque during Question Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said 30 Bangladeshis have been sent back to their country after May 2016.
“From May 2016 to December 2016, a total of 4,022 people were declared as foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunal and the process is complete for another three persons,” Patowary said. The Minister said that a total 79,771 persons have been detected in the state as foreigners since 1986, of which 29,729 have been deported so far.
Khaleque, citing examples, said that many genuine Indian citizens have been harassed by branding them as foreigners, but ultimately they are freed.
“The government is equally concerned about this. We will instruct the Deputy Commissioners to provide voters’ list or other documents immediately to the Foreigners Tribunal if it asks,” Patowary said. (PTI)