WEST BENGAL OFFICIALS TALK BANGLADESH, BORDER SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CALCUTTA 000542

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PACOM FOR POLAD, STATE FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/1/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR PREF XD IN BG
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL OFFICIALS TALK BANGLADESH, BORDER SECURITY

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CLASSIFIED BY: Henry Jardine, Principal Officer, AMCONSUL ,
KOLKATA.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




CLASSIFIED BY: Henry Jardine, Principal Officer, AMCONSUL ,
KOLKATA.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) SUMMARY: In light of recent political tensions in
neighboring Bangladesh, post has engaged West Bengal state
government officials on their views of the situation and the
impact on the India-Bangladesh border. The government contacts
had a general preference for the Awami League as they believe
the Awami League will be more likely to crack down on Islamic
fundamentalists as well as northeast Indian insurgents operating
out of camps in Bangladesh. In contrast, the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP) is viewed as accommodative of Islamic
fundamentalists. The political situation has not resulted in a
flight of refugees into West Bengal yet, but state security
officials are concerned about an influx of Hindu refugees as the
election nears and accordingly, the Indian Border Security Force
(BSF) and district police have heightened their alert. END
SUMMARY.

BORDER INTELLIGENCE CHIEF RIPS INTO BNP AND VOICES CONCERN ABOUT
ARMY

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2. (U) On November 30, the Telegraph reported that the BSF had
increased the number of battalions on the border from 54 to 69
in anticipation of a mass influx of refugees from Bangladesh.
Although no exodus has been reported so far, the BSF
Director-General, in an alarmist comment, told press that there
were indications that people could start flocking to India as
the election draws near. He said he has information that
minorities (Hindus) are being threatened because they are
perceived as Awami League voters. "There is tremendous pressure
on them to vote for the Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP. This could
push them into crossing over."


3. (C) Poloff met with Additional Director General of Police
responsible for border intelligence Dillip Mitra on December 1
to discuss the state government's view of events in Bangladesh.
Mitra also said he was worried about an influx of Hindu refugees
as the election nears because the BNP and its allies "will make
Hindus' lives miserable." He said Hindus would seek refuge in
India until the election concludes, and although India had not
yet seen a spike in immigration, he had "information" that
villages in Bangladesh had already drawn up contingency plans to
leave. (Note: On November 8, the Superintendent of Police in
Murshidabad, a district bordering Bangladesh with a high
incidence of illegal immigration, told Post that police have
been placed on alert but that the district has not seen an
increase in illegal immigration or a change in pattern stemming
from the political turmoil in Bangladesh. End note.)


4. (C) Mitra expressed the oft-repeated view in West Bengal
that "fundamentalist groups thrive in Bangladesh under the BNP
government" as Jamaat-e-Islami and its Islamist allies are
"calling the shots." He focused his concerns about the current
situation on the Bangladesh Army. He claimed that both the Army
and DGFI chiefs wanted to become involved because "everything is
up for grabs in Bangladesh," and he warned that an army takeover
would allow fundamentalists to operate with impunity, suggesting
that Bangladesh's "limited democratic institutions" at least
provide some checks. He encouraged the US to quietly press the
army to stay out of the fray.


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HOME SECRETARY DISCUSSES TERRORISM AND STATE-CENTER COORDINATION

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5. (C) On November 2, West Bengal Home Secretary Ray confirmed
that the BSF had been placed on alert but that the border area
had been calm following an initial rush by both Hindus and
Muslims. On the prospect of more Hindus refugees, Ray said he
did not expect an influx, although he did mention that a Hindu
temple had been demolished during riots in Chittagong on October
29, an event that had not been reported in the press.


6. (C) Speaking about illegal immigration more broadly, Ray
said that most Bangladeshi immigrants are hard working laborers,
although the government has had to worry about a new element,
terrorism, since September 11, 2001. He said infiltration was a
concern but explained that most cases of terrorism involving
infiltration from Bangladesh concern individuals of Pakistani
origin. Ray added that some Indians and Bangladeshis may be
supporting the Pakistanis, but he explained that the government
does not have a very clear picture of the support network on the
Indian side of the border and that the intelligence provided by
the central government usually is not actionable. Ray said that
West Bengal Chief Minister Bhattacharjee conveyed the state's
concerns about the Bangladesh border to the central government
during an October 28 meeting with Foreign Secretary Menon, and
Ray thought that New Delhi finally was beginning to pay
attention to the "East."


7. (C) COMMENT: So far, all is quiet on India's Eastern front.
However, West Bengal government officials worry that the
situation in Bangladesh could worsen, and they are particularly
concerned about an influx of Hindu refugees. Accordingly, the
BSF and district police have been placed on heightened alert,
although officials concede that the border is very porous and if
people want to cross, they will cross. While the officials'
comments seem alarmist, the results of their fears are real,
with increased police and paramilitary presence on the border
and greater suspicion and hardening of views toward Bangladesh,
especially the BNP.JARDINE