NEW DELHI, Aug 10 � Over 80,000 Bangladeshi nationals who entered the country with valid documents have disappeared during the last three years in India.
On a day when the debate over illegal infiltration rocked the Parliament, the Home Ministry admitted in Rajya Sabha that 82585 Bangladeshi nationals, with valid travel documents have gone missing in India.
Last year some 21274 Bangladeshi nationals disappeared without a trace. The highest number of 32,644 Bangladeshis had gone traceless in 2009, though the figure came down to 28,667 the next year.
According to Home Ministry�s record, 67,945 foreign nationals hailing from different countries have disappeared in India, but the highest number belongs to Bangladesh followed by nationals of Afghanistan.
As entry of illegal migrants into the country, without valid travel documents is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to have any data of such illegal migrants, including those from Bangladesh and Afghanistan, missing in India, said Minister of State for Home Affairs, M Ramachandran.
The law enforcement agencies maintain a strict vigil on the activities of foreigners including those from Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he said.
A revised procedure for detection and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants was communicated to the State Government in November 2009, which was partially modified in February, last year.
The procedure includes sending back then and there, the illegal migrants, who are intercepted at the border, while entering India unauthorisedly, said the Minister.
