Darjeeling Administration to Set Up Temporary Holding Centre at Matigara

SANCHITA AICH BAG, MP, SILIGURI, MAY 29, 2026: In a major move aimed at checking illegal infiltration along border areas, the BJP-led state government has directed the setting up of temporary “holding centres” for suspected infiltrators.

Following the directive, the Darjeeling district administration has decided to establish one such temporary holding centre at Matigara in Siliguri.

The “Atarokhai Community Hall” located near Shiv Mandir under the Matigara-Naxalbari Assembly constituency has been officially identified as a temporary detention or holding centre for suspected illegal infiltrators.

According to sources, the state government has issued guidelines and forwarded them to the Siliguri Police Commissionerate, Darjeeling District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police (Darjeeling), SDPO Naxalbari and the concerned BDO offices.

The primary objective of the administration is to accurately identify illegal infiltrators, bring them under the legal framework and eventually deport them to their respective countries.

Until the deportation or “pushback” process is completed, the identified individuals will be kept at the designated holding centre.

Harishanker Panicker, District Magistrate of Darjeeling, said: “Infrastructure development work at the identified holding centre has already commenced. The responsibility of identifying infiltrators has been entrusted entirely to the police.”

The Siliguri Police Commissionerate and Darjeeling District Police will jointly conduct the operation.

Preliminary discussions have also been held with BSF officials regarding coordination and border-related procedures.

For verification of documents and overall supervision, the Sub-Divisional Officer of Siliguri and an ACP-rank officer from the Police Commissionerate have been specifically assigned.

Once brought to the holding centre, the detainees will remain under strict police surveillance to avoid any legal complications or disorder.

Anandamay Barman, MLA of Matigara-Naxalbari, claimed that illegal infiltrators had settled across the district and urban areas with the support of the previous government.

“They not only deprived local residents of their rights but also altered the demographic structure of the region. With the establishment of a double-engine government, strict action against infiltrators has now become possible,” he said.

Siliguri’s geographical location makes it strategically sensitive, lying close to both the India-Bangladesh and India-Nepal international borders.

Infiltrators often use the region as a corridor to spread across different parts of the state and the country.