Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
In the second part of Operation Illegals, India Today team shows how porous stretches and lax security along the Indo-Bangladesh in Cooch Behar have turned infiltration into a thriving business. Here we delve deeper to expose the individuals and systems fuelling this crisis. From touts openly bragging about their infiltration exploits to agents profiting off human trafficking and smuggling, the findings paint a grim picture of national security vulnerabilities.
Read part one of Operation Illegals here
Our journey began in Dinhata Block-1 in West Bengal, along the ever-shifting Dharla River. Security here is as fluid as the river itself. The BSF checkpoint, a makeshift shack made of straw, is a temporary solution in a terrain that defies permanent installations. To access this area, our team had to hand over Aadhaar cards as security deposits before crossing the river.
On the boat ride, we encountered a tout who proudly admitted to making a livelihood from illegal crossings. Speaking with an air of defiance, he recounted his years of helping people cross into Bangladesh and back without fear of consequences. He openly discussed how the foggy nights provided ideal cover for these operations, making it almost impossible for the BSF to detect their movements.
On the other side of the river lies an Indian village that functions as though it is in Bangladesh. Dependency on Bangladeshi goods is rampant, and transactions are primarily conducted in Bangladeshi taka. The blurred lines between the two nations are evident in every aspect of life here.
The tout led us to a point where crossing into Bangladesh was remarkably simple. He pointed out the absence of guards on either side of the border, saying, “You will never see them.” This lack of enforcement emboldens infiltrators and facilitates a steady flow of Bangladeshi workers into India. These workers earn wages in takas by day and return home by nightfall, avoiding BSF patrols by steering clear of their routes and making no eye contact.
We also discovered the ingenuity behind infiltration at fenced sections of the border. Another tout demonstrated how wooden planks are used to cut small gaps in the wire. With these tools, people can cross from one side to the other in mere minutes. Spotters stationed on both sides keep watch over patrol movements, waiting for the right moment to initiate crossings. According to the tout, election seasons are particularly favourable for their operations as BSF presence is reduced, leaving vast stretches of the border lightly guarded.
Infiltration doesn’t stop at the border. Agents play a crucial role in helping infiltrators settle into Indian cities, far removed from the border region. These agents arrange fake documents and jobs, creating new identities for those who cross illegally. One agent boasted about his involvement, claiming to have helped establish entire settlements of infiltrators in the area.
The networks facilitating human infiltration are also deeply involved in smuggling cattle, drugs, gold, and other contraband. According to BSF sources, illegal activities in Dinhata alone generate approximately Rs 80 lakh every day. For each individual smuggled across the border, traffickers pocket between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000, fuelling the greed that drives this dangerous enterprise.
What we uncovered in Dinhata highlights the extent of the challenge at the Indo-Bangladesh border. Porous stretches, audacious smuggling operations, and deeply entrenched networks have turned this region into a haven for illegal activities. Without urgent and comprehensive measures to strengthen border security, these vulnerabilities will continue to pose a grave threat to India’s national security.
