The Jharkhand High Court has mandated the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate allegations of cross-border infiltration and its subsequent impact on the local demographic structure in Jharkhand. The decision follows concerns about illegal immigrants from Bangladesh infiltrating the Santhal Parganas region, threatening the indigenous tribal population’s way of life.
Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Arun Kumar Rai, presiding over the case, highlighted the urgency of addressing these allegations. The court’s move came during the hearing of a petition claiming that illegal settlements were increasingly disrupting the tribal areas in districts such as Sahibganj, Pakur, Godda, Jamtara, and Dumka.
Acknowledging the historical significance of Jharkhand’s tribal majority, which led to its establishment as a state on November 15, 2000, the court expressed concern over the declining demographic trends among the tribal community. “There is no denying that the problem of decline in the demography of the tribal population is currently affecting the population matrix of Jharkhand,” the bench noted.
The proposed committee will comprise central and state officers, including the Union home secretary and the chief secretary of Jharkhand. Their task will be to furnish a detailed report on the extent of infiltration and its effects on the local tribes. The court emphasized that understanding the magnitude of this issue is crucial for devising effective curative measures.
This decision aligns with earlier reports acknowledged by the Centre, which confirmed the presence of illegal immigrants in Pakur and Sahibganj. The petition further alleged that these immigrants are establishing madrasas that disrupt the local tribal culture.
