Subhendu Ray
The Indian enclaves, also known as Chitmahals,
along the Indo-Bangladesh border have become a safe haven for Indian and
Bangladeshi militant groups due to their unique geographical setup. The
enclaves are surrounded by Bangladesh on all sides, making them detached from
the Indian mainland, and therefore inaccessible to Indian police. At the same
time, since these enclaves are legally part of Indian territory, Bangladeshi
forces are also bound to stay away from them. This peculiar geographical setup
has made these enclaves the perfect location for militants to set up training
camps.
Intelligence reports suggest that there are about
130 such enclaves that have become the go-to spots for militant groups like the
Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). The militants operate with impunity from
these enclaves and often organize attacks that have led to the displacement of
residents of nearby villages. Despite this, the Indian government has been
reluctant to address the issue and has failed to provide basic facilities such
as citizenship, voting rights, education, healthcare, and social security to the
residents of these enclaves.
Moreover, the political parties of Bangladesh have
been demanding a full-time open corridor for Bangladeshi nationals through the
Teen Bigha corridor, which was established in 1992 to allow Bangladeshi
citizens to cross it. However, despite increasing demands from the Bangladesh
government, the Indian government has allowed only a 12-hour window for
crossing the corridor. Bangladesh has also refused to allow a 3-km long Tetulia
corridor for Indian nationals, causing further tensions between the two
governments.
The situation is complicated, as the deprived
Chitmahal dwellers are caught in the middle of this dispute. While the
militants continue to operate from these enclaves, the residents of these areas
are unable to access basic facilities and live in constant fear of attacks. The
Indian and Bangladeshi governments need to focus on addressing the issues faced
by the residents of these enclaves and come up with a solution that would
prevent the growth of militant activities in the region.
The Indian enclaves along the Indo-Bangladesh
border have become a hotspot for militant activities due to their unique
geographical setup. The Indian and Bangladeshi governments need to focus on the
residents of these enclaves and come up with a solution that would prevent the
growth of militant activities in the region. It is time for both governments to
work together to ensure the safety and security of the residents of these
enclaves.
