Three ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’ lodged in Murshidabad holding centre

West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has operationalised a new holding centre for illegal foreign nationals, housing three suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators arrested in Lalgola. The move follows similar action in Malda, as the state strengthens infrastructure for detention and deportation-related procedures under enhanced security

Kolkata: Three suspected Bangaleshi infiltrators have been lodged at the newly created ‘holding centre’ in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district for illegal foreign nationals, officials said on Tuesday.

On Monday, Malda became the first district in the state to set up a ‘holding centre’, where nine suspected Bangladeshis have been housed.

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A senior police officer said the ‘holding centre’ at Lalgola in Murshidabad is now operational, with three “Bangladeshi nationals” currently lodged at the facility under tight security.

The trio had allegedly crossed the border illegally and stayed in Lalgola, he said. They were arrested on Sunday and later shifted to the ‘holding centre’, the officer said.

“Further legal and administrative procedures regarding the detainees would be carried out in coordination with the state home department and central agencies,” he said.

“Round-the-clock police deployment has been ensured at the Lalgola facility. Details of the detainees have already been communicated to the home department,” the officer said.

The centre has been temporarily set up on the third floor of ‘Padma Bhavan’, a building adjacent to the Bahadurpur panchayat office under the jurisdiction of Lalgola Police Station.

The state’s Home and Hill Affairs Department had on May 23 directed district magistrates to create the infrastructure required to house “apprehended foreigners” and “released foreign prisoners awaiting deportation or repatriation”.