By PC Bureau
In a move echoing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign pitch on illegal immigration during the ongoing Jharkhand assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a series of raids across Jharkhand and West Bengal on Tuesday. The raids are part of an investigation into money laundering linked to the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into India.
The ED’s probe, which was initiated in September under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focuses on the suspected trafficking of Bangladeshi women into Jharkhand, followed by the generation of illicit funds tied to the smuggling operations.
The latest action follows the filing of an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed in June by the Jharkhand police at the Bariyatu police station in Ranchi. The investigation addresses the unlawful infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Jharkhand and neighboring regions, raising serious concerns about cross-border human trafficking and financial crime.
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Earlier this month, in a related development, six Bangladeshi nationals—including three transgenders—were arrested at a rail terminus in West Tripura. The group was allegedly preparing for a journey to Mumbai, highlighting the ongoing issue of people smuggling from Bangladesh into India.
The political dimensions of this issue came to the forefront when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a rally in Ranchi on November 5. During his speech, Singh promised that the BJP, if elected to power in Jharkhand, would take stringent measures to curb illegal immigration and protect the rights of the tribal communities in the state. His remarks underscored the BJP’s campaign focus on safeguarding local demographics, particularly in areas such as Santhal Pargana and Kolhan, which have seen increasing concerns about demographic shifts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders have also weighed in on the issue, accusing the incumbent state government of facilitating illegal immigration and contributing to demographic changes in these tribal regions.
With Jharkhand’s assembly elections set for November 10 and 20, the issue of illegal immigration is likely to remain a focal point of debate.
