VZCZCXRO7579
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHCN
DE RUEHCI #0542/01 3371703
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 031703Z DEC 06
FM AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1296
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1166
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0470
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0468
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0297
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0297
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0229
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0035
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0195
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0044
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0118
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USPACCOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1593

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CALCUTTA 000542 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PACOM FOR POLAD, STATE FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/1/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR PREF XD IN BG
SUBJECT: WEST BENGAL OFFICIALS TALK BANGLADESH, BORDER SECURITY 
 
CALCUTTA 00000542  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Henry Jardine, Principal Officer, AMCONSUL , 
KOLKATA. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Henry Jardine, Principal Officer, AMCONSUL , 
KOLKATA. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY: In light of recent political tensions in 
neighboring Bangladesh, post has engaged West Bengal state 
government officials on their views of the situation and the 
impact on the India-Bangladesh border.  The government contacts 
had a general preference for the Awami League as they believe 
the Awami League will be more likely to crack down on Islamic 
fundamentalists as well as northeast Indian insurgents operating 
out of camps in Bangladesh.  In contrast, the Bangladesh 
Nationalist Party (BNP) is viewed as accommodative of Islamic 
fundamentalists.  The political situation has not resulted in a 
flight of refugees into West Bengal yet, but state security 
officials are concerned about an influx of Hindu refugees as the 
election nears and accordingly, the Indian Border Security Force 
(BSF) and district police have heightened their alert. END 
SUMMARY. 
 
BORDER INTELLIGENCE CHIEF RIPS INTO BNP AND VOICES CONCERN ABOUT 
ARMY 
 
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¶2.  (U) On November 30, the Telegraph reported that the BSF had 
increased the number of battalions on the border from 54 to 69 
in anticipation of a mass influx of refugees from Bangladesh. 
Although no exodus has been reported so far, the BSF 
Director-General, in an alarmist comment, told press that there 
were indications that people could start flocking to India as 
the election draws near.  He said he has information that 
minorities (Hindus) are being threatened because they are 
perceived as Awami League voters.  "There is tremendous pressure 
on them to vote for the Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP.  This could 
push them into crossing over." 
 
¶3.  (C) Poloff met with Additional Director General of Police 
responsible for border intelligence Dillip Mitra on December 1 
to discuss the state government's view of events in Bangladesh. 
Mitra also said he was worried about an influx of Hindu refugees 
as the election nears because the BNP and its allies "will make 
Hindus' lives miserable."  He said Hindus would seek refuge in 
India until the election concludes, and although India had not 
yet seen a spike in immigration, he had "information" that 
villages in Bangladesh had already drawn up contingency plans to 
leave.  (Note:  On November 8, the Superintendent of Police in 
Murshidabad, a district bordering Bangladesh with a high 
incidence of illegal immigration, told Post that police have 
been placed on alert but that the district has not seen an 
increase in illegal immigration or a change in pattern stemming 
from the political turmoil in Bangladesh.  End note.) 
 
¶4.  (C) Mitra expressed the oft-repeated view in West Bengal 
that "fundamentalist groups thrive in Bangladesh under the BNP 
government" as Jamaat-e-Islami and its Islamist allies are 
"calling the shots."  He focused his concerns about the current 
situation on the Bangladesh Army.  He claimed that both the Army 
and DGFI chiefs wanted to become involved because "everything is 
up for grabs in Bangladesh," and he warned that an army takeover 
would allow fundamentalists to operate with impunity, suggesting 
that Bangladesh's "limited democratic institutions" at least 
provide some checks.  He encouraged the US to quietly press the 
army to stay out of the fray. 
 
 
CALCUTTA 00000542  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
HOME SECRETARY DISCUSSES TERRORISM AND STATE-CENTER COORDINATION 
 
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¶5.  (C) On November 2, West Bengal Home Secretary Ray confirmed 
that the BSF had been placed on alert but that the border area 
had been calm following an initial rush by both Hindus and 
Muslims.  On the prospect of more Hindus refugees, Ray said he 
did not expect an influx, although he did mention that a Hindu 
temple had been demolished during riots in Chittagong on October 
29, an event that had not been reported in the press. 
 
¶6.  (C) Speaking about illegal immigration more broadly, Ray 
said that most Bangladeshi immigrants are hard working laborers, 
although the government has had to worry about a new element, 
terrorism, since September 11, 2001.  He said infiltration was a 
concern but explained that most cases of terrorism involving 
infiltration from Bangladesh concern individuals of Pakistani 
origin.  Ray added that some Indians and Bangladeshis may be 
supporting the Pakistanis, but he explained that the government 
does not have a very clear picture of the support network on the 
Indian side of the border and that the intelligence provided by 
the central government usually is not actionable.  Ray said that 
West Bengal Chief Minister Bhattacharjee conveyed the state's 
concerns about the Bangladesh border to the central government 
during an October 28 meeting with Foreign Secretary Menon, and 
Ray thought that New Delhi finally was beginning to pay 
attention to the "East." 
 
¶7.  (C) COMMENT:  So far, all is quiet on India's Eastern front. 
 However, West Bengal government officials worry that the 
situation in Bangladesh could worsen, and they are particularly 
concerned about an influx of Hindu refugees.  Accordingly, the 
BSF and district police have been placed on heightened alert, 
although officials concede that the border is very porous and if 
people want to cross, they will cross.  While the officials' 
comments seem alarmist, the results of their fears are real, 
with increased police and paramilitary presence on the border 
and greater suspicion and hardening of views toward Bangladesh, 
especially the BNP.JARDINE