Title: Bangla immigrants to be pushed back
Author: 
Publication:  The Times of India
Date: Nov 5, 2001
URL: http://www.timesofindia.com/articleshow.asp?catkey=-2128830821&art_id=613240509&sType=1

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.”