West Bengal asked to hand over nine immigration checkposts

KOLKATA - Expressing concern over increasing infiltration from Bangladesh into West Bengal, the central government has asked for control of nine immigration check posts (ICPs) in the state, a senior state government official said Thursday.

A central team comprising officials from the finance and external affairs ministries met state government officials at the state secretariat in the afternoon to discuss the issue.

“The team members alleged that the infiltration from Bangladesh into West Bengal has increased because of improper monitoring and controlling of the ICPs by the state government,” the official said, adding the team urged the state government to hand over the nine ICPs including that located near Haridaspur in North 24 Parganas.

Confirming the development, Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said: “We will apprise the central government about our views on this issue shortly after discussing the matter.”