'BSF Shooting People Dead': Bengal CM Mamata Amid Row Over CAA Implementation

She further alleged that the BSF intends to issue separate identity cards to people in border areas to manipulate the cards and remove their names.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks during an event

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that the Border Security Force (BSF) was carrying out 'atrocities' against people in the border area of Murshidabad. She also claimed that the people were being 'shot dead' by the BSF, ANI reported.

She further alleged that the BSF intends to issue separate identity cards to people in border areas to manipulate the cards, remove names, and subsequently send people to detention camps.

Banerjee's remarks came days after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur claimed that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be implemented across the country in seven days. 

Addressing a gathering in Murshidabad, Banerjee said, "The border area of Murshidabad is witnessing severe atrocities by the BSF. People are being shot dead. BSF is adopting a new approach here, telling people that they need to obtain a card from them."

#WATCH मुर्शिदाबाद: पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्यमंत्री ममता बनर्जी ने कहा, "मुर्शिदाबाद सीमावर्ती इलाका है, BSF काफी अत्याचार कर रही है। लोगों की गोली मारकर हत्या कर रही है। यहां पर BSF एक नया तरीका अपना रही है, लोगों से कह रही है कि यहां उनसे(BSF) एक कार्ड लेना होगा, अब यह कौनसा कार्ड… pic.twitter.com/IC021cz0ul

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) January 31, 2024

"Now, what kind of card is this and how many cards will they issue? People already have cards like Aadhaar, PAN, Kanyashree, Rupashree, among others. In reality, their intention is to manipulate the cards and remove names to expel people from here and send them to detention camps. I allow DM, SDO to permit if permission is sought for the card at the internal border, DM, BDO, and SDO will grant permission. Law and order of the state are in the hands of the state government, and the job of the BSF is to manage the border area," she added.

Banerjee had earlier claimed that the saffron party is raising the CAA issue ahead of the Lok Sabha polls to reap electoral benefits.

She had, however, asserted that she will never allow its implementation in the state during her lifetime, PTI reported.

She had also expressed alarm over reports of the BSF allegedly issuing separate identity cards to residents in border areas. "They are issuing separate identity cards to people living in border areas. Never accept these cards. This is a trap," Banerjee had warned.

The CAA, enacted by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.