SynopsisHundreds of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals rushed to the West Bengal border, fearing detention under the state's new "detect-delete-deport" policy. The crackdown follows the opening of holding centers for illegal immigrants, prompting fear and a voluntary return for many. Officials are expediting the deportation process, directly handing over detainees to Border Guard Bangladesh after verification.ANIBangladeshi illegal immigrants fleeing Bengal Hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals without valid stay documents gathered near the Bithari-Hakimpur border crossing in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas on Tuesday, hoping to return home before facing detention under the state government’s fresh crackdown on illegal immigration. The rush at the border came as authorities moved quickly to enforce the BJP government’s new “detect-delete-deport” approach, a TOI report stated.Security personnel at the border detained many of the people arriving there before beginning the formal process of handing them over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Men, women and children were seen waiting near the Swarupnagar side as officials carried out verification procedures.Holding centres trigger panic among undocumented migrantsThe sudden movement towards the border started a day after Bengal opened its first two “holding centres” in Malda and Murshidabad for illegal immigrants awaiting deportation. Officials said the centres were created within 48 hours of a government circular asking district administrations to prepare facilities for detainees.— ANI (@ANI) By Monday evening, 12 suspected Bangladeshi nationals intercepted in Malda and Murshidabad had already been shifted to these centres.The developments sparked fear among undocumented workers living in different parts of Bengal, especially those employed in construction, hotels, fisheries and domestic work across Kolkata and nearby districts.“I am willingly returning home”Many of those returning said they feared detention or forced deportation if they stayed back.Taklima Khatun, originally from Khulna in Bangladesh, said she crossed into India through the Ghojadanga border two years ago and worked as a domestic help.“I don't want to end up in a holding centre or be pushed back. So, I am willingly returning home,” she said.Shahidul Gazi from Satkhira said he entered India three years ago through the Swarupnagar border with the help of a middleman and later worked as a mason.“I have no citizenship documents. Like hundreds of others, I am being forced to leave,” he said.Mohammad Ali Sheikh from Jessore, who worked in a Kolkata hotel and lived in Metiabruz for nearly seven years, said the new policy forced him to reconsider staying in India.“After the new govt directive (to set up holding centres), I decided to return to Bangladesh,” he said.Suvendu Adhikari warns infiltrators to leave quicklyChief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a strong warning after a meeting in Kalyani, asking undocumented immigrants to leave immediately or face government action.“Jaldi jaldi bhago nahi toh jo karna hai sarkar karega (Run as quickly as possible or govt will do what it needs to),” he said.Adhikari also instructed officials to speed up the deportation process and said there was no need to send illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators to court before repatriation.“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 side,” he said.BSF begins verification before handoverBorder Security Force officials said every detained person goes through an identification process before being handed over to Bangladeshi authorities.A BSF officer said fingerprints and photographs are collected, and detailed questioning is carried out to confirm identities and background details before contacting BGB for repatriation.Adhikari defended the new approach, saying the law allowing deportation had always existed but was not implemented earlier.“It didn't make sense to keep illegal immigrants in jails, providing them food, clothing and medicine,” he said.“The law to deport them always existed but some people did not use it because of political interest. We are implementing the law in the interest of the country and the state,” he added.Read More News on