Shah Slams Mamata on Infiltration: Bengal a Hub, National Security at Risk

• Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Mamata Banerjee's government, alleging Bengal has become an infiltrator hub due to vote bank politics, posing a national security threat.
• Exact infiltration numbers are unknown, but 20,806 infiltrators were apprehended from various borders between 2014-2024; an estimated 2 crore illegal Bangladeshi migrants were in India by 2016.
• Primary infiltration routes include the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border, India-Myanmar border (Rohingya), and India-Nepal border, exploited due to porous nature and geographical challenges.
• Government efforts include border fencing, high-tech surveillance (lasers, thermal cameras), increased BSF patrolling, and abolishing the Free Movement Regime on the Myanmar border.
• Deportation is complex as Bangladesh often refuses to acknowledge apprehended individuals; local support, vote bank politics, and economic impacts like demographic shifts and resource strain exacerbate the issue.

Why It Matters: Infiltration in Bengal is a complex national security issue, fueled by porous borders, political disputes, and socio-economic factors.