BJP Sukanta Majumdar Flags: A fresh political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after BJP state president and Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar publicly accused a couple in Raiganj’s Karkha village of being Bangladeshi infiltrators, blaming local police for inaction despite repeated complaints.
The allegation comes at a politically sensitive time — just as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter rolls 2025 is being rolled out across Bengal, and amid growing tensions between the BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) over voter verification, illegal migration, and electoral integrity.
Majumdar’s statement, made through a viral social media post, has drawn intense attention to border security, voter list legitimacy, and administrative negligence, sparking renewed debate over the governance of Bengal’s border districts.
Majumdar’s Allegation: “Police Ignored Complaint on Illegal Migrants”
According to the details revealed by Majumdar, a formal complaint was lodged in 2023 at the Bansihari Police Station in South Dinajpur district against a couple — identified as Abdul Mannan and Lovely Begum — allegedly living illegally in India after crossing over from Bangladesh.
The BJP MP claimed that the police took no action for nearly two years, allowing the couple to live freely in Karkha village until the matter was made public through his social media post.
Majumdar, who represents Balurghat constituency, shared copies of the original complaint and what he described as Bangladeshi identification documents belonging to the couple, saying this was proof of cross-border infiltration being ignored by the local administration.
“The people of Karkha village have long complained about this couple being illegal migrants. Despite evidence, the police turned a blind eye. This shows how deep infiltration has spread and how inactive the state machinery has become,” Majumdar said.
He further alleged that after his post went viral, the couple fled their home, which villagers later found locked.
Villagers’ Voices: “They Disappeared Overnight”
Locals in Karkha confirmed that the couple had been living in the area for several months and were engaged in small business activities. However, after Majumdar’s post on social media, their house remained locked and abandoned.
Nasima Parveen, wife of the original complainant Feroz Miah, said:
“We filed the complaint back in November 2023, but nothing happened. They were living in the same house until this weekend. After the MP posted about them online, they left in the night. Now, nobody knows where they went.”
Villagers also expressed frustration with what they called “administrative apathy”, saying their concerns about undocumented residents had been ignored by both police and panchayat authorities.
Police Response: Silence Raises Questions
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, no formal police statement has been released in response. The Bansihari Police Station has not confirmed whether any new investigation has been initiated into the complaint or the alleged couple’s disappearance.
A senior district officer, speaking off record, said the matter was being “looked into” but did not elaborate further. The lack of transparency and communication has only fueled speculation about systemic negligence or political pressure on law enforcement in sensitive border districts.
Political observers point out that the silence of the police might reflect a larger administrative dilemma — between enforcing law and avoiding communal or political backlash.
Why Raiganj Matters: A Borderland Under Watch
Raiganj, located in Uttar Dinajpur district, is not far from South Dinajpur, where Karkha village lies. Both districts share porous borders with Bangladesh, making them hotspots for alleged cross-border migration and smuggling.
Experts have long highlighted that border management in North Bengal faces unique challenges:
- Long stretches of unfenced terrain.
- Shared ethnic and linguistic communities across the border.
- Daily informal movement of people for work or trade.
- Weak verification systems at the local level.
This makes it difficult for local police and panchayats to distinguish genuine residents from undocumented entrants — an administrative vulnerability that often gets weaponized in Bengal’s political battles.
Political Context: BJP vs. TMC on Infiltration Narrative
Majumdar’s accusation is not isolated. It fits into the BJP’s broader political narrative accusing the ruling TMC government of being “soft on infiltrators” and allowing “fake voters” to remain on the electoral rolls for political gain.
The timing is crucial. Bengal is currently undergoing the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) — a statewide campaign to update and verify voter data before the 2026 Assembly Elections.
The BJP has already demanded re-verification of voter documents, arguing that fake birth and identity certificates are being used to include non-citizens in the rolls. The TMC, on the other hand, has dismissed these allegations as an attempt to spread fear and division.
Political analyst Dr. Nirmalya Ghosh explains:
“Every electoral revision in Bengal becomes a political contest. The issue of infiltration is tied not just to identity but also to political demography. Whoever controls the narrative of legitimacy gains electoral advantage.”
A Pattern of Negligence: From Complaints to Inaction
The case in Karkha village isn’t the first time such allegations have surfaced. Local records and media reports reveal multiple instances where citizens filed complaints about illegal entrants, yet no visible action was taken by the administration.
The reasons often cited include:
- Lack of resources for verification and deportation.
- Absence of coordination between local police and the Border Security Force (BSF).
- Fear of communal tension in mixed-population villages.
- Political pressure to avoid “sensitive” issues before elections.
As a result, many complaints remain pending or unresolved — creating a growing perception that law enforcement in Bengal’s border districts is paralyzed by politics.
Majumdar’s Broader Message: “Bengal Cannot Ignore Border Security”
Majumdar’s public statement extends beyond the single incident. It reflects a broader political strategy by the BJP to keep issues of illegal migration, citizenship, and national security at the forefront of Bengal’s political debate.
The MP said that ignoring such infiltration not only affects demographic balance but also compromises national integrity.
“We are not against any community. But illegal entry and unchecked settlement threaten the sanctity of our borders. The administration’s indifference is unacceptable,” Majumdar said in his statement.
Experts Weigh In: A Governance Crisis in the Making
Policy and security experts agree that Bengal’s border governance system needs urgent reform.
Professor Arindam Dutta, a border studies researcher at North Bengal University, noted:
“The Karkha episode shows a typical failure of local governance — complaints go unacknowledged, and action is delayed until it becomes a political issue. The administration needs a coordinated approach involving police, BSF, and local bodies.”
Former IPS officer Satyajit Roy added:
“The political blame game has overshadowed genuine security concerns. Bengal’s borders are unique — you cannot solve migration issues by rhetoric. What’s needed is transparent data-sharing and community-based verification.”
Human Cost: Fear, Suspicion, and Distrust in Villages
Incidents like this have a social impact beyond politics.
Residents in Karkha and nearby villages describe an atmosphere of mistrust — where locals suspect neighbors, and every new resident is viewed with doubt.
Community leaders worry that this growing suspicion could divide villages along religious or ethnic lines.
Local schoolteacher Rupa Islam said:
“Ordinary people just want peace. When leaders bring up infiltration and documents, it creates fear. People who have lived here for years are now worried they’ll be accused falsely.”
This fear underscores the delicate balance between maintaining national security and preserving local harmony in border areas.
Election Commission’s Role and Accountability
As the Special Intensive Revision proceeds, the Election Commission of India (ECI) faces renewed pressure to ensure that:
- Every genuine citizen is included.
- No ineligible or undocumented person is listed.
- Political neutrality is maintained throughout the process.
The ECI’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in West Bengal has directed all districts to verify voter documents rigorously, especially in border and minority-dominated areas like North and South Dinajpur.
However, without strong inter-agency coordination — between the police, BSF, panchayats, and ECI — the process risks being both incomplete and controversial.
Administrative and Legal Hurdles
Experts point to several barriers that make handling such infiltration allegations complex:
- Lack of legal framework for swift verification and deportation.
- Diplomatic sensitivity with Bangladesh over identifying and returning citizens.
- Ambiguity in citizenship documentation for residents born before 1971.
- Limited digital records in rural areas, making verification slow.
These challenges mean that local police often avoid taking initiative without explicit state or central instructions — leading to the kind of inaction Majumdar has accused them of.
Historical and Demographic Background
The issue of cross-border movement in Bengal has historical roots:
- Post-Partition (1947), millions migrated from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
- The 1971 Liberation War further increased refugee flows.
- Over time, generations settled, often without complete documentation.
This blurred boundary between migration, refuge, and citizenship continues to complicate administrative action today.
National Implications: The Bengal-Bangladesh Border Debate
Majumdar’s allegations also revive the national debate over border infiltration — a subject that has influenced India’s internal politics and foreign policy.
The BSF has repeatedly reported challenges such as human trafficking, cattle smuggling, and undocumented crossings in Malda, Murshidabad, and Dinajpur districts.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has in past reports urged tighter coordination between state police and central security forces.
While Bengal’s ruling government accuses the Centre of “politicizing border issues,” the Centre argues that state-level enforcement failures weaken national security.
Voices of Caution: Need for Balanced Enforcement
Human rights groups caution that while illegal migration is a legitimate concern, the rights of legitimate residents must be safeguarded during investigations.
People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) member Shantanu Mitra noted:
“Whenever border migration becomes politicized, innocent poor families often face harassment. Authorities must investigate based on evidence, not political directives.”
Balancing law enforcement with humanitarian sensitivity remains one of the toughest governance challenges in Bengal’s border areas.
Path Forward: Restoring Faith in Law and Administration
Experts recommend several steps to address both the security and trust deficit highlighted by the Raiganj controversy:
- Independent Verification Committees: Multi-agency task forces including police, BSF, and district magistrates to handle migration complaints transparently.
- Digital Complaint Tracking: Public online dashboards to track status of migration-related FIRs and actions taken.
- Training for Police and BLOs: Special training on legal frameworks and human rights during voter roll revisions.
- Public Awareness Drives: Educating residents about documentation and legal procedures to prevent panic and misinformation.
- Dialogue with Bangladesh: Continued diplomatic engagement to create humane and legal mechanisms for deportation of proven illegal entrants.
Conclusion: A Local Case Reflecting a Larger Crisis
The Karkha “infiltrator couple” case is more than a local controversy — it’s a reflection of how politics, policing, and public sentiment intersect in Bengal’s complex border landscape.
Sukanta Majumdar’s allegations highlight a failure of administrative accountability and a rising trust deficit between citizens and state institutions. Whether the couple in question were truly illegal migrants or victims of a political storm, the episode underscores one undeniable truth — West Bengal’s border governance system is under severe strain.
Unless the Election Commission, state government, and law enforcement agencies act decisively to restore transparency and trust, such incidents will continue to shape Bengal’s electoral politics and communal balance in the years ahead.
BJP Sukanta Majumdar Flags: External Reference Links for Further Context
- Election Commission of India – Electoral Roll Revision Guidelines
- Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal – Voter Services Portal
- Ministry of Home Affairs – Border Management Division
- Press Information Bureau – Updates on Electoral Processes
- Border Security Force – India-Bangladesh Border Operations Overview
