HC warns DCs in Santhal Pargana over statement on B’deshi influx

Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on Thursday cautioned deputy commissioners (DCs) of the six districts in the Santhal Pargana division, saying if their statements on illegal immigrants from Bangladesh “not residing” in their respective districts were found to be wrong, they would face contempt proceedings. The case will come up for a hearing on September 12.
A warning came from a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai, which was hearing a PIL filed by one Daniel Danish on illegal immigrants from Bangladesh taking refuge in the Santhal Pargana region.
The court had earlier directed the DCs of Godda, Jamtara, Deoghar, Sahibganj, Pakur, and Dumka to inform it if illegal immigrants are present in their respective districts.
The state govt Thursday informed the court, on behalf of the DCs, that no Bangladeshi resident was present in the districts of Santhal Pargana.
Appearing in the court on behalf of the Union govt, solicitor general of India Tushar Mehta sought time to file a comprehensive reply in the matter. Mehta acknowledged the seriousness of the problem and said that it was a national concern.
Danish, in his petition, had pleaded that Bangladeshi refugees were entering Jharkhand through the porous borders in the Santhal Pargana region. “Illegal immigrants come into the state through the borders and are piling up in Sahibganj, Deoghar, Pakur, Godda, Jamtara and Dumka.
The refugees are setting up madrasas and settlements in the five districts and disturbing the existence of the local tribal populace. This is an issue of the Centre and the state govt has nothing to do in this regard, the petition mentioned.