The government has taken a number of steps to check illegal migration into Assam from Bangladesh, union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday."There are reports that some Bangladeshi nationals are able to manage to enter Assam and other parts of the country illegally despite several checks and control measures taken along the international border," Rijiju stated in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.He said to maintain national security, the central government had already taken a number of steps, including strengthening of the Border Security Force and equipping it with modern and sophisticated equipment.
According to the minister, gaps between the border outposts have been reduced and patrolling along the international boundary intensified.Rijiju said construction of border roads and fencing has been accelerated and surveillance equipment provided."Besides, the issues of illegal migrants from Bangladesh is regularly taken up at various forums and steps have been taken for coordinated patrolling, identification of vulnerable gaps, strengthening of riverine patrolling etc," he said.
He said India has also urged Bangladesh to take effective steps to check the illegal movement of its nationals into India, especially through vulnerable and riverine areas.
The minister pointed out that the powers of identification and deportation of foreign nationals staying illegally, including Bangladeshi nationals, have been delegated to the state governments and union territories' administrations under the Foreigners Act, 1946."The government has set up 36 foreigners tribunals in the state of Assam for detection and deportation of illegal immigrants," he said.An additional 64 foreigners tribunals were sanctioned in June, 2013, for Assam for speedier disposal of pending cases."An action plan for detection and deportation of the illegal migrants in Assam is also prepared and the government of Assam has formed 500 state police units for detection of illegal immigrants in Assam," Rijiju said.