Abstract Book of the 2nd World Conference on Security Studies
Year: 2025
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Study On Impact of Existence of Open Enclave and Foreigners Corridor Inside Indian Territory on India’s Internal Security
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Debarshi Bhattacharya
ABSTRACT:
Nearly seven decades of unresolved vital enclave issues between the two neighboring countries were eventually resolved in 2015 with the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between India and Bangladesh. India’s partition in 1947 had the terrible result of creating enclaves both inside India and in Bangladesh. The people who lived in these enclaves suffered greatly as a result, for 67 years after India’s independence and partition, in terms of access to basic rights, opportunities, and government support services. As per LBA, 2015, 51 Bangladeshi (BD) enclaves inside Indian territory and 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory were actually transferred to each other. But, by virtue of LBA, 1974 executed earlier between the two countries, one BD enclave situated inside India, namely Dohogram-Angarpota (D-A) twin enclave, had not yet been exchanged by means of LBA, 2015 and it still remains as an integral part, may not be contiguous, of Bangladesh completely surrounded by Indian territory. A study had been undertaken through extensive field survey to assess impact of existence of DA BD enclave inside Indian territory from the point of view of India’s internal security. Field survey was conducted for the purpose in form of interview, group discussion, questionnaire survey, personal interaction etc. to gather information from the Indian people residing adjacent to D-A enclave and Tin Bigha Corridor (TBC), people of D-A enclave, officials of Border Security Forces of India and Bangladesh, public representatives, representatives of political organizations, local administration etc. Due to 24-hour open access for the BD people through TBC, the existence of the D-A BD enclave inside Indian territory caused the residents of Kuchlibari Region of Mekhligunj Block, India, to be extremely concerned about potential future issues about their link to the Indian mainland. The open border of the D-A BD enclave in the area has caused the local Indian population to be concerned about risks to both the national security of India and the law-and-order issues as well. On the other hand, it was observed that 24 hours opening of TBC brought significant positive changes to the people of D-A BD enclave in terms of their socioeconomic condition and security status.
Keywords: Enclave, Exchange of Enclaves, Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), Dohogram-Angarpota (DA) Bangladeshi (BD) Enclave, Tin Bigha Corridor (TBC)