Tamil Nadu Declares Salem Jail a ‘Special Camp’ for Bangladeshi Nationals

Swift Summary

• The Tamil Nadu government has designated the district jail in Salem’s Attur as a ‘special camp’ to temporarily house Bangladeshi nationals until thier deportation.
• This decision was made following a request from the Q branch police to restrict the movement of 180 Bangladesh nationals currently under orders issued under Section 3(2)(e) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
• These individuals will be relocated from Puzhal Central Prison due to limited space in tiruchi’s existing special camp.
• The Attur district jail spans 1.25 acres and was upgraded into a district facility over 15 years ago. It has high-security infrastructure and can accommodate around 200 prisoners with proper facilities.
• In January this year, intelligence operations by Tamil Nadu’s Anti-Terrorism Squad resulted in the apprehension of 59 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Tiruppur district.
• Tamil nadu Police reported over 50 cases against 93 Bangladeshi nationals during operations conducted in 2024.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The decision by the Tamil Nadu government to establish a dedicated ‘special camp’ for housing illegal immigrants reflects an effort to address security concerns while adhering to legal protocols for eventual deportation.The move ensures efficient management of resources, given space constraints at alternative detention centers like Tiruchi’s special camp.

This step aligns with national regulations under the Foreigners Act, yet highlights ongoing challenges surrounding undocumented migrants entering India illegally and settling across states like Tamil Nadu.While temporary containment is necessary, broader questions about border control policies and regional law enforcement coordination merit attention to curb illegal immigration sustainably without overwhelming state systems.

For now, this measure underscores state-level responsiveness but necessitates central involvement for long-term solutions regarding repatriation processes with neighboring countries like Bangladesh.

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