Tripura: 10 illegal Bangladeshi migrants detained at Agartala railway station on their way to Gujarat

Agartala: If you are living in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bengaluru or Mumbai like cities, be careful the man working in your kitchen garden may be a Bangladeshi intruder or the woman cleaning your dishes may be a Bangladeshi intruder. In a concerning development, the Indo-Bangladesh border adjacent to Northeastern states, including Tripura, has become a hotspot for illegal intruders seeking to cross over into Indian territory. Recent reports from Agartala Railway Station highlight the persistent challenge faced by authorities in curbing such activities.

On Febriary 28, a joint operation involving the Government Railway Police, Railway Protection Force, and BSF intelligence resulted in the apprehension of twelve individuals at Agartala Railway Station. Among them were 10 Bangladeshi nationals and 2 Indians, Suraj Sahu and Rabiul Sheikh, from West Bengal and Gujarat, respectively.

Tapas Das, Officer-in-Charge of Agartala Government Railway Police Station, explained that the individuals were detained based on confidential information and suspicious movements at the railway station. During interrogation, the Bangladeshi citizens admitted to crossing the border with the intention of reaching Gujarat, while the two Indians claimed citizenship and provided addresses in West Bengal and Gujarat.

“We have filed a case against them, and tomorrow we will present them in court,” stated Das, emphasising the severity of the situation. The detainees, six females and six males, disclosed that a Bangladeshi tout named Kamrul assisted them in crossing the border, shedding light on the role of facilitators in these illegal activities.

This incident raises broader concerns about illegal infiltrations across Northeastern states. In previous cases, Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas have confessed during police interrogations that they entered India, where handlers provide them with fake Indian documents, including Aadhar cards and Voter IDs. Subsequently, these intruders secure employment in major cities, blending into the population.

The continuous influx of illegal intruders poses a serious threat to the nation’s security. Authorities are grappling with the challenge of securing the border and preventing unauthorised entries, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance and robust measures to address this pressing issue. The detention at Agartala Railway Station serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to safeguard India’s borders from illegal activities.