Court slams failure to weed out Bangladeshi migrants

A Delhi court Thursday expressed concern over the central government's failure to act against nearly three crore illegal Bangladeshi migrants who are staying in the country and enjoying the privileges meant for Indian citizens.

Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said, "While the genuine citizens of this country continue to suffer in abject poverty, what is it that prevents a firm, resolute and intense government action against these three crore Bangladeshi nationals illegally staying in India, enjoying all benefits which are otherwise the entitlement of citizens."

The court said this while awarding sentence to two Bangladeshi nationals in a dacoity-cum-murder case.

The court made the observation while sentencing Jahangir to life term and his compatriot Mohammed Karim to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs.20,000 on each of them.

"Our country has become a haven for all these criminal elements who are most ruthless and brutal with anybody who comes in their way," said the court.

The judge said a large number of cases have come to light where Bangladeshi nationals were involved in heinous offences such as robberies, dacoities, murders and rapes.

She added that it was this lack of concerted governmental or administrative action which compelled the courts of law to step in.

According to the prosecution, the two Bangladeshis Feb 8, 2011, along with four others, entered a house in Ashok Vihar in north Delhi night and attacked the inmates when they resisted their dacoity bid.

Police said three of them were nabbed from Anand Vihar. One of the arrested suspect was acquitted by the court.

While sentencing the duo, the court said criminals of Bangladeshi origin regularly cross over to India in large numbers taking advantage of the "porous" borders and terrain and escape back with the booty which they rob.

"It pains me to observe that most of the time the administration is helpless. It is the citizens of this country who have the first right over its resources," the court said.