New Policy: No Court Appearance for Bangladeshi Infiltrators in Bengal

The statement attributed to Suvendu Adhikari outlines a controversial and stricter approach toward dealing with alleged illegal migrants from Bangladesh in West Bengal. According to the report, a new administrative directive has been issued that changes the standard legal process followed after the detention of such individuals. As per the claims, individuals identified as Bangladeshi infiltrators will no longer be produced before courts after arrest. Instead, they are to be directly handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF), which would then be responsible for their immediate deportation to Bangladesh. This approach marks a shift from the earlier procedure, where detained individuals were processed through the judicial system and could remain in custody for extended periods during trial and verification. The policy, as described, is part of what has been termed a “detect, remove, and deport” framework. Under this framework, authorities are expected to identify suspected illegal migrants, detain them, and expedite their removal from Indian territory through coordination with border security agencies. The intent, according to the statement, is to streamline deportation procedures and reduce prolonged detention and court involvement. It is also mentioned that police commissioners and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) have been instructed to implement this approach. In practical terms, this means that if any person suspected of being an illegal migrant from Bangladesh is detained—such as at stations or police jurisdictions like Howrah—they should be transferred directly to the BSF instead of being presented before a magistrate or court. Additionally, officials are expected to maintain systematic records, with a weekly report on the number of such detentions being submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office through the Director General of Police (DGP). The report further references that this action is linked to provisions under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which is described as a modern legal framework introduced by Parliament to regulate immigration, registration, monitoring, detention, and deportation processes in India. It also notes that the policy reportedly takes into account the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), particularly distinguishing individuals who may or may not qualify for citizenship protections under its provisions. However, the statement does not specify the exact legal mechanism or detailed amendments under which such a significant procedural shift has been implemented, leaving questions about judicial oversight and due process. As a result, the announcement has been presented as part of a broader political and administrative push to tighten enforcement against illegal immigration in the state, while also raising discussions around legality, implementation, and human rights safeguards.