India has deported nearly 5,000 Bangladeshi nationals as part of a renewed crackdown on undocumented migration following recent political changes in West Bengal. The development comes amid heightened enforcement actions along the India-Bangladesh border. Officials say the campaign targets individuals classified as illegal entrants under domestic law.
According to state authorities, the deportations began after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party secured a major electoral victory in West Bengal. The state government has since intensified measures against undocumented migrants. Officials have described the policy as part of a broader effort to strengthen border control.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said nearly 4,800 individuals had already been deported. He added that holding centres had been set up across districts to process detainees. Authorities said another several hundred people are currently awaiting deportation procedures.
Adhikari stated that those removed did not fall under the Citizenship Amendment Act framework. He said the state had begun coordinated action against what he termed “infiltrators”. He also confirmed that additional deportations were being prepared in the coming days.
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The crackdown comes amid longstanding political and social tensions over migration in the border region. Critics argue such actions risk targeting vulnerable communities and escalating diplomatic sensitivities. Meanwhile, India and Bangladesh are expected to continue border security discussions in upcoming official meetings.