Is Bengal Becoming a 'Leading Global Supplier of Jihadis' Under Mamata's Regime?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- West Bengal is facing serious allegations of becoming a hub for jihadis.
- A fake birth certificate racket has been uncovered in Pathankhali.
- Thousands of counterfeit birth certificates are allegedly issued.
- The implications of these activities raise concerns about national security.
- Investigations are ongoing into the broader network of illegal activities.
Kolkata, June 17 (NationPress) BJP leader Amit Malviya asserted on Tuesday that under the present Trinamool Congress administration led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal is swiftly becoming a prominent global source of jihadis.
“Under Mamata Banerjee's leadership, Bengal has transformed into a sanctuary for jihadis and infiltrators - and now, it is quickly evolving into a leading global supplier of jihadis!” Malviya remarked in a statement shared on his official X handle.
Referencing media reports, Malviya highlighted that a substantial fake birth certificate operation was being conducted in Pathankhali within the Gosaba block of South 24 Parganas district, where a contractor, Gautam Sardar, allegedly issued over 4,000 counterfeit birth certificates between 2021 and 2025, using the credentials of the local village panchayat chief.
“These certificates were sold to jihadis from Bangladesh, granting them direct access to Indian citizenship, and allowing them to obtain Indian passports and migrate to countries such as Italy, Thailand, and the UAE,” Malviya claimed.
The role of fake birth certificates as a means to secure other Indian identity documents was first identified earlier this year by investigators looking into the multi-crore fake passport operations originating from the state.
Investigators observed a recurring pattern in these rackets. Illegal infiltrators, predominantly from Bangladesh, were initially provided shelter in various villages near the border with Bangladesh—both land and coastal—before agents facilitated the acquisition of fake birth certificates and ration cards, essential for the creation of other identity documents.
With these counterfeit ration cards and birth certificates, additional Indian identity documents like EPIC, PAN, and Aadhaar cards were generated for them. The final step involved procuring fake passports based on these other fraudulent identity documents.
According to Malviya, the Pathankhali case represents just one instance of a panchayat office being exploited to issue fake birth certificates.
“Consider the magnitude of this issue if similar operations are occurring throughout Bengal! Under Mamata Banerjee’s regime—where employment is scarce and governance has declined—she appears to be striving to construct her corrupt empire on the foundation of illegal infiltrators. This transcends mere corruption or governance failure. This is NATIONAL TREASON—Institutionalized,” Malviya’s statement concluded.