India has repatriated approximately 1,770 Bangladeshi and 330 Pakistani nationals during the last three years. A government statistics reveals this figure which can now vindicate concerns of the pressures groups fighting to push back the illegal Bangladeshis from northeast.
As per available information in possession of Union Home Ministry, approximately 330 Pakistani and approximately 1770 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated during the last three years.
What is more surprising is that these illegal migrants enter into the country in clandestine and surreptitious manner.
“Though an accurate estimate of such illegal migrants is not available, but some instances of violation of the law and involvement in illegal activities by foreign nationals have been reported,” a top official in the Home Ministry told Northeast Now.
Central Government is vested with powers to deport a foreign national under section 3(2)(c) of the Foreigners Act, 1946. These powers to identify and deport illegally staying foreign nationals have also been delegated to the state governments and Union Territory Administrations and the Bureau of Immigration under the Foreigners Act, 1946.
“Law enforcement agencies also maintain a strict vigil on the activities of foreigners in the country and take appropriate action in cases of any illegal activities,” the official said.
The revelation involving repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis assumes significance following the ongoing process of updating of National Register of Citizen (NRC).
The first part of draft NRC covering 1.90 crore applicants out of 3.29 crore applicants has been published on the expiry of the midnight of December 31 last year, including names of those applicants in respect of whom the entire process of verification has been completed.
The remaining applicants are under various stages of scrutiny and after their verification is completed, another draft NRC will be published soon. “After publication of complete draft NRC, every individual would get an opportunity to file claims or objections, if any, and only after disposal of such claims and objections final NRC will be published,” the official added.
