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India Today’s Operation Infiltration has uncovered the glaring vulnerabilities along India’s eastern frontier. In this final segment, we dive into human stories — tales of desperation, exploitation, and survival that reflect the deep-rooted issues at the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Two Bangladeshi women, now in the custody of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Cooch Behar, offer a glimpse into the harsh realities of illegal migration. They were caught while attempting to return to Bangladesh for a family wedding. One of them shared how she and her family had been living in India for over 15 years, working in brick kilns in Haryana. The women earned a meagre Rs 500 for every 1,000 bricks they made.
When asked why they didn’t seek legal work in their homeland, one woman revealed a stark truth: opportunities like these are not available to women in Bangladesh unless they are educated. “They don’t give such work to women,” she explained, shedding light on the gender biases prevalent in her country.
To cross back into Bangladesh, she paid Rs 75,000 for her family, plus Rs 15,000 per person for her children and husband. Despite carrying an Indian Aadhaar Card, she and her companion were caught while attempting to breach the border wire. Their story underscores a troubling reality: forged documents continue to facilitate illegal migration. Both women are now facing legal action.
Our investigation also led us to a woman in her twenties, who claimed to have worked in red-light districts across Kolkata, Asansol, and Cooch Behar. While she insisted she was from West Bengal, she admitted that many sex workers in the brothels she had seen came from Bangladesh. “They bought houses, and many have even become madams of the kothas (brothels),” she revealed, exposing another dimension of cross-border infiltration — the trafficking of women into India’s underground economies.
Another case involved a young Hindu boy arrested near the border just days ago. He was attempting to flee Bangladesh to join relatives in India. The boy claimed his family lived in Alipurduar and Dinhata, but his reasons for fleeing were unclear. Whether it was an escape from religious persecution or a search for a better life remains unanswered.
These personal accounts highlight the rampant movement of people across the North Bengal frontier. The BSF faces monumental challenges in securing this volatile area. Sources revealed that during election season, the force is stretched thin, with one jawan guarding as much as 800 meters of border compared to the usual 200 meters.
Adding to the complexity are the riverine areas, which turn pitch dark at night. The shifting course of rivers and seasonal monsoon floods make it nearly impossible to install long-term surveillance equipment like infrared cameras or CCTVs. Temporary structures are often washed away, leaving large stretches vulnerable.
The consequences of such unchecked infiltration are deeply troubling. Beyond the immediate security risks, the steady influx of illegal migrants threatens to alter the demographic balance of border regions and provide a potential cover for terrorist activities.
As Bangladesh grapples with political instability, the stakes for India’s security have never been higher. The stories unearthed during Operation Infiltration are a stark reminder that addressing the challenges at the Indo-Bangladesh border requires urgent, coordinated action.
