Infiltration, Illegalities, Land Grab: Republic Blows The Lid Off in Jharkhand | Big Expose

New Delhi: Republic Media Network has conducted one of its biggest investigation exposing attempts of infiltration, illegalities and land grab of tribals by illegal immigrants from Bangladesh layer-by-layer. Republic through its investigation has dared to report what no one has been able to and uncovered the infiltrators modus-operandi of grabbing tribals land.

Exposing the infiltration nexus layer-by-layer, tribals who are victims of land grab nexus shared their ordeal with Republic saying how infiltrators houses over the years have increased in the region and how it's becoming a threat for them.

Republic investigation teams went on the ground from the tribal belt of Santhaal Pargana in Jharkhand where statistics showed maximum rise in the infiltration.

Investigation revealed that the Muslim population in that area is at a whooping 23 per cent in the year 2023. The villagers account told us how this case is not just about fake Aadhar cards but of infiltration, land grabbing and intimidation to tribals.

Jharkhand is witnessing a record infiltration from illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who are not just residing in the region but are also grabbing tribal lands by marrying innocent tribal women.

The number of the Muslim population has increased over the years in Jharkhand . There are clear numbers which the BJP also talks about. It says that the demographic change in Jharkhand is not organic but it's inorganic. It can only happen when there is a large scale influx from Bangladesh and it’s pretty much the same situation as we earlier saw in Assam .

There are reports of attack on the local population by Bangladesh infiltrators. The Republic Media Network decided to investigate this and sent teams which travelled almost 700 kms to expose the reality of infiltration.

Republic spoke to people as it decided to find out whether the infiltration claims are true and we found that there has been a large scale demographic change especially in the Santhal Pargana and Sahibganj areas.

A data showed that Muslim population in these areas had surged significantly from Change in muslim population 37 lakhs in 2001 to 48 lakhs in 2011.

Villagers narrates how Bangladeshi infiltrators are threat to them 

Speaking to Republic's Special Investigation Team (SIT), Anita Hembram said, “There was only forest here earlier but now you will only see houses of Muslims. Women go in hunt for job and they are told to give their land in return. There is no place for ST."

“The village head further said that once they marry the women, the land grabbing is their eventual motive to usurp the tribal land by marrying tribal girls.”

Another resident, Debu Upmukhiya, Village Head, told Republic that the system here is that they (infiltrators) marry poor adivasi women and then they take their land as donation, there are Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Villagers told Republic how the violence is also initiated by these infiltrators.

A village resident named Mala Mandal said that earlier there were only few houses but now after Bangladeshi infiltrators invaded, they have constructed many houses. They also mentioned about incidents of violence which took place on 17-18 October. “When we Hindus warned them, they threatened us with knives and told they would stab us.”

Speaking about the reason behind the violence, another villager told Republic, “We had gone to offer prayers and that is when they came from three sides and surrounded us. They (Bangladeshi infiltrators) killed a cow and we asked them not to do it. That is when the brawl started… they said we will chop it what can you do.”

The huge influx of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Jharkhand's Sahibganj and Panki is driven from two West Bengal constituencies Malda and Murshidabad as they share borders.

ED probing Bangladeshi infiltrators case 

According to the Enforcement Directorate, the illegal Bangladesh immigrants are using fake Aadhaar cards, forged passports, and also using illegal arms.

These illegal immigrants used fake Aadhaars, forged passports, illegal arms, immovable property documents, cash, jewellery, printing papers, printing machines, and blank proformas as they were involved in illegal financial activities tied to cross-border movement. 

The ED has taken over the Bangladeshi Infiltration case registered in Ranchi.  A case concerning alleged Bangladeshi infiltration was initially registered on June 6 this year at the Bariatu Police Station in Jharkhand 's Ranchi. The case has now been taken over by the ED. The ED is expected to further investigate the financial and logistical networks associated with this case, which may have implications for cross-border security.

PM Modi says infiltration in Jharkhand is at alarming level

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has alleged that infiltration has assumed an alarming proportion in Jharkhand and hit out at the ruling JMM-led coalition for "patronising" infiltrators.

He also termed the ruling dispensation's 'Abua Awas' housing scheme in place of PM Awas Yojana as a 'farzi (fake)' scheme for ‘cut money and commission.’

"Infiltration has assumed an alarming proportion in Jharkhand where its 'beti, mati and roti (daughter, mother, bread) are under attack. The JMM-led coalition is patronising infiltrators. The coalition is facilitating infiltrators to occupy land, forest and water of tribals, making their population decline," the PM alleged while addressing a poll rally at Godda.

He also alleged that the ruling alliance not only indulged in "mafia raj and question paper leak" but also stalled development and forced people to migrate, remain unemployed and suffer because of devoid of connectivity.

"I promise you that I will bring out culprits who played with your children's future even if they are hiding in 'paatal'," the PM said.

The JMM-led coalition applied salt to your wound by giving tickets to the wife of the jailed leader, the PM said without naming Alamgir Alam who is behind bars in a multi-crore money laundering case.

The Congress has given ticket to Alam's wife Nishat Alam from Pakur, a constituency represented by him.

Alam, the former Parliamentary Affairs Minister was taken to custody by the ED on May 15 in an alleged money laundering case and is under investigation for alleged irregularities and bribery in the state rural development department.

The ED had recovered over Rs 32 crore in cash from Alam's domestic help.