ED Conducts Raids in Jharkhand and West Bengal Over Illegal Bangladeshi Infiltration and Money Laundering Investigation

Enforcement Directorate ED Raids 17 Locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal Over Alleged Illegal Bangladeshi Infiltration Linked to Money Laundering Investigations

The Enforcement Directorate made significant raids at 17 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal on Tuesday, as part of a money laundering investigation against alleged illegal Bangladeshi nationals immigration into India. The raids come at a time when the Jharkhand Assembly elections are just days away and voting in the first phase would begin on November 13 and the second phase on November 20. Also on the day are by-elections to six assembly seats in West Bengal.

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The case was registered following an investigation conducted by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) since September. It is probing into cases of trafficking and illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals, mostly women, into Jharkhand. The probe in this regard was initiated by a complaint from a woman who had entered India from Bangladesh through illegal channels. She claimed that several women had been trafficked into the state, which led to the accumulation of illicit money. Raids at local resort net authorities five to six individuals police. The police have arrested five to six persons during raids at a local resort here, one of whom was a woman, who also possessed an Aadhaar card.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders have accused the Jharkhand government of aiding infiltration by turning a blind eye to it, stating that the resultant demographic change in tribal areas of Santhal Pargana and Kolhan regions has led to many changes. The issue was highly politicized in the run up to the state elections as the BJP flagged concerns over the potential influence of such infiltration on local communities. Modi attacked the state’s reluctance to engage with the issue, particularly after a High Court directive to set up an independent panel to survey the influx of Bangladeshi immigrants.

This is on the basis of an Enforcement Case Information Report filed under the PMLA following an FIR that was registered by Jharkhand Police at Bariyatu police station in Ranchi in June. The probe brings to the fore the broader issue of illegal immigration and its impact on regional politics and national security, the latter still reeling from findings of illegal immigration-trafficking-financial crimes connections.

With the election season at the doorstep, this probe was thought to add more fuel to the fire of political debate and may lead to important changes in the state’s political scenario.

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