Archive · 2 Aug 2026
West Bengal CM Promises Cautious Deportation Policy
Suvendu Adhikari, the chief minister of West Bengal, said his state will be careful about who it calls an undocumented immigrant.
He wants to avoid mistakes like what happened to Sunali Khatun, who was sent to Bangladesh in 2025 but later brought back to India after a court order.
The government will not let people who are not citizens stay in West Bengal and will send them back.
In the last month, 4,800 people from Bangladesh were deported, and 836 more are planned for deportation.
The Union government said it would bring Khatun back for humanitarian reasons but still keep its own legal concerns.
The chief minister said no Indian citizen would face difficulties.
The Border Security Force handled the deportations.
The Supreme Court had asked the Union government to return Khatun.
The state is trying to be more careful than before.
This is all about making sure the right people stay in the country.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced a cautious approach to identifying undocumented immigrants to avoid repeating the Sunali Khatun case.
Sunali Khatun and her son were deported to Bangladesh in 2025 but were returned to India after a Supreme Court order.
The Union government said it would bring Khatun back on humanitarian grounds while still asserting its right to surveil her.
Adhikari said West Bengal will not allow undocumented immigrants to stay and will send them back, but will be more cautious than the previous regime.
In the past month, 4,800 alleged undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh were deported, and 836 more are slated for deportation.
- Who
- Suvendu Adhikari, Sunali Khatun
- What
- Announcement of cautious approach to undocumented immigrants and deportation policy
- When
- Saturday
- Where
- West Bengal, India
- Why
- To prevent repeat of wrongful deportation and ensure proper identification of undocumented immigrants
- Chief Minister
- Suvendu Adhikari
- State
- West Bengal
- Deported individuals
- Sunali Khatun and her son
- Number of deported immigrants last month
- 4,800
- Supreme Court order
- Return of Khatun to India
- Union government stance
- Humanitarian grounds but without prejudice to contentions