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Posing as pilgrims, Bangladeshis sneak into India

Posing as pilgrims, Bangladeshis sneak into India

Author: Digambar Patowary
Publication: Hindustan Times
Date: March 11, 2002

An alley between two dargahs of the same name on either side of the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya is arguably the busiest infiltration route into India.

Despite vigil by the BSF and border fences, Bangladeshis invariably creep into India pretending to be pilgrims to the Bangladeshi dargah and wishing to visit the Indian dargah.

Sources say this border area, called Mahendragani, has now become the hub of anti-India propaganda fuelled by some of the infiltrators who are backed by Islamic fundamentalists and militants. The area has also been witness to two major communal riots since 1992.

The Hajrat Peer Shah Kamal Fakir Dargah is on a mount at the junction of Meghalaya, Assam and Bangladesh. The border fence ends at the base of the mound on either side, for it would have bisected the dargah had it been run through.

After the war in 1971, a similar dargah was built in Bangladesh, 200 m from the border fence and called the same name. The Bangladeshis also developed a small road between the two dargahs, to facilitate the movement of Muslim devouts.

Move they do, but more to sneak into Meghalaya and Assam than for pilgrimage.

According to locals, the Indian dargah is run by a woman and three boys, who take turns watching out for BSF patrols. If the coast is clear, people waiting at the Bangladeshi dargah are herded into the Indian dargah through the door facing Bangladesh, and they exit through a door opposite.
 


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