Delhi for protecting enclave people

Delhi has approved West Bengal government's request for deploying five companies of central forces in Cooch Behar for ensuring security of citizens of Indian enclaves in Bangladesh who are to settle in India with the Land Boundary Agreement having being ratified.

This comes soon after Delhi granted a package of Rs 3,008 crore sought by the state government for rehabilitating about 35,000 people who are expected to come to Bengal. The package includes funds for housing, roads, schools and hospitals and development schemes.

If an Indian living in an Indian enclave within Bangladeshi territory wants to move to the Indian side, he will have to give up all immovable property in the enclave.

The same is true for persons living in Bangladeshi enclaves currently within Indian territory.

The state government opines that the responsibility of providing security to these new Indian citizens should be shared by Delhi, according to a source.

Moreover, it has come to the government’s notice that land mafia of Cooch Behar are reportedly trying to grab the land of the people living in the enclaves.

The request for central forces was submitted by the state government a few weeks ago.

Bangladesh has 51 enclaves in India, all of which are in Cooch Behar, while India has 111 enclaves spread over four districts of Bangladesh along the Cooch Behar border.

According to sources, it will take around 11 months for the citizens of the Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and citizens of Bangladesh enclaves in India to settle in India and Bangladesh respectively.

The Statesman/ANN