The Jharkhand High Court has instructed the state government to take swift measures against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants entering through the Santhal Parganas.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai issued this directive while hearing a PIL filed by Daniel Danish.
The court noted that illegal immigration is likely to increase given the current instability in Bangladesh. The bench ordered that the director of the Intelligence Bureau, the director general of the BSF, the chief election commissioner of India, and the director general of the Unique Identification Authority of India be made parties to the case. Notices were issued to these officials, requiring them to file responses.
Additionally, the court recommended that the government conduct surprise inspections of Aadhaar and voter identity cards. These initiatives, the judges stated, would not only help identify illegal settlers but also deter further illegal immigration.
The court emphasized that both state and Union governments need to collaborate to address the issue of illegal immigration. The judges observed that the current situation in Bangladesh is likely to become more volatile.
The case is scheduled for a subsequent hearing on August 22. The petition alleged that Bangladeshi immigrants have been entering the state through the Santhal Parganas, disrupting the demographic structure of the tribal population. It was asserted that this influx poses a significant threat to the country’s sovereignty. The petitioner claimed that immigrants have entered the state through the six districts of Santhal Pargana — Deoghar, Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahebgunj, and Jamtara.
