The decision of Suvendhu Adhikari-led West Bengal government to establish district-level holding centres for suspected illegal immigrants appears to have triggered a fresh "reverse exodus" through the Bithari-Hakimpur border exit in Bengal's North 24 Parganas.Hundreds of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators made a bee-line for the border exit on Tuesday seeking to return home amid an administrative decision to implement the new BJP government's "detect-delete-deport" strategy for illegal immigrants.Speaking to reporters after an administrative meeting at Kalyani on Tuesday, Adhikari claimed that those assembled at the border point were willing to return to Bangladesh.Also read: West Bengal govt orders 'Holding Centres' for illegal Bangladeshi, Rohingya deportees"Jaldi jaldi bhago nahi toh jo karna hai sarkar karega (Quickly leave, otherwise the government will take necessary action)," Adhikari said, referring to the gathering at the border point while directing officials to ensure that those present are sent back to their country at the earliest."We do not want to feed them in jails or waste public money on them. This is actually harming the Indians, especially in West Bengal. The law was there, but was not utilised by a few people (by the previous government) for vote bank politics. We will implement this for the sake of the country and the state," he added.The queues of people with large bags, rolled-up blankets and plastic sheets came a day after the first two holding centres for detained or imprisoned illegal immigrants opened in West Bengal's Malda and Murshidabad districts. The crowd at the border revived a scene that had briefly unsettled West Bengal's political landscape last winter during the SIR exercise.Carrying trolleys, utensils and bundles, the citizens presented reminders of lives packed in haste and uncertainty.Reverse ExodusThe "reverse exodus" of alleged undocumented migrants, first witnessed during the voter roll Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in November 2025, appears to have resurfaced after the state's newly installed BJP government initiated its "detect, delete and deport" drive.More than 200 alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators were found over the last two days at the Hakimpur in North 24 Parganas' Basirhat subdivision, waiting for a call from BSF personnel at the checkpoint so they could return to their country across the border."This reverse exodus started in November last year. Early this year, the numbers had gone down, but over the last two days they have risen significantly. We are following necessary procedures and are in touch with our counterparts in Bangladesh," a senior BSF official told PTI. The personnel further indicated that many arriving at Hakimpur were voluntarily approaching authorities seeking repatriation.Much of those gathered at the border had reportedly lived for years in places such as Dum Dum, New Town and Dankuni, working as masons, labourers and domestic help across construction sites, hotels, fisheries and households.The SIR exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India had also triggered panic among undocumented residents across parts of West Bengal. Back then, too, similar visuals of people with large sacks and bundles surfaced from Hakimpur, fearing that scrutiny would expose forged or borrowed papers.The state government has directed all districts to establish holding centres to house "apprehended foreigners" and "released foreign prisoners" till deportation formalities are completed.CM Adhikari said there was no need to send illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators to court. "We have provisions in the law that allow police to directly hand them over to BSF. In accordance with an agreement between India and Bangladesh, BSF will establish whether they are Bangladeshi and hand them over to authorities on the other said," he said.(With inputs from TOI, PTI)