Ranchi, August 31: Babulal Marandi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly and former Chief Minister, has expressed serious concerns regarding large-scale illegal immigration from Bangladesh into the Santhal Pargana region. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he highlighted issues of rapid demographic changes and illegal land encroachments in the area.
Marandi has called for a special investigation campaign under the direct supervision of the central government in the bordering districts. He demands the identification of illegal immigrants, their detention in centers, and their immediate deportation.
In his letter, Marandi referenced official voter statistics from 2019 to 2024, claiming an unusual increase in a specific category of voters in several assembly constituencies, including Pakur, Rajmahal, Littipada, Maheshpur, Barhet, Nala, and Dumka.
According to the letter, the percentage of voters in this category increased by 40.9% in Pakur, 35.5% in Littipada, 40.3% in Nala and Barhet, and 33.2% in Dumka, significantly outpacing the growth rate of other voter categories. Marandi accused individuals of systematically encroaching on government land, pasture land, and the ancestral land of local tribal communities, in violation of the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act.
He stated that these immigrants are being settled through fraudulent lineage claims, fake identity cards, and illegal birth certificates. The letter alleges that a section of the ruling party and local administration is providing political protection to these elements under the guise of vote bank politics.
Citing the tribal identity and border security of Santhal Pargana, Marandi urged the Home Minister to conduct a special investigation campaign to identify illegal citizens based on the old land records from 2003-2004. He also requested the immediate establishment of a well-equipped detention center in the Santhal Pargana division to hold identified illegal immigrants and facilitate their deportation process.
The Opposition Leader has also appealed for scrutiny of voter lists through the Election Commission to remove fake names added based on forged documents. He called for an investigation by central agencies into the rackets producing fake documents and the systems protecting them, urging strict action against the culprits.
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