Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
- Internet Edition
Date: November 5, 2001
Siliguri: Those entering West Bengal
from Bangladesh without valid papers will be considered simple intruders
and pushed back, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said in Siliguri
on Sunday.
Many people have crossed the border
in recent weeks after political persecusion following the elections in
Bangladesh. Asked about their fate, Bhattacharjee said: "We can't help
it. Those who don't have papers must be treated as intruders and pushed
back." He said district authorities had collected records of people
who had crossed over in accordance with which the entrants will be pushed
back. Earlier, the state government had asked the authorities in border
districts to prepare lists of people coming from Bangladesh.
Bhattacharjee arrived at Siliguri
during the day after a meeting in Darjeeling with Darjeeling Gorkha Hill
Council chairman Subash Ghisingh. This was his first meeting with Ghisingh
after he became chief minister and also after the February 9 attack on
Ghisingh .
Although the GNLF had organised
bandhs demanding the arrest of the "real culprit" behind the attack, Bhattacharjee
said, "The chapter is closed. We have arrested the main culprits, including
Chatre Subba. Now it is over to the judiciary."
GNLF leader I.N. Pradhan said, "All
GNLF supporters want the actual mastermind and financier behind the attack
to be arrested. This the state police could not do. I don't want to comment
if Mr Ghisingh is satisfied after today's meeting."
