Agartala: It seems that illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya intruders have made some of the big cities of India as their favourite destination for infiltration. “Organiser” has carried out several news stories in the last few months, where groups of Bangladeshi and Rohingyas arrested in Tripura had confessed their connections with cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi, or Kolkata.
In a coordinated effort, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) apprehended eight Bangladeshi nationals, including women and one Indian tout at Agartala Railway Station on May 11. Their attempt to board the Kanchanjunga Express bound for Mumbai, where the touts promised them work was thwarted by the police operation.
According to Officer-In-Charge Tapas Das of GRP Agartala, the individuals had illegally entered Tripura from the Sonmura sub-division under the Sepahijala District. Acting on a tip-off, the GRP and RPF swiftly set up a trap, leading to the apprehension of the suspects.
Das elaborated, “We noticed some individuals heading towards the platform with suspicious behaviour, prompting us to detain them. During preliminary interrogation, they confessed to their intention of travelling to Mumbai and Pune via Sealdah for work-related purposes, having crossed the border illegally from Comilla, Bangladesh.”
The arrested Indian tout was identified as Sentu Kumar Deb, while the Bangladeshi nationals were named Tania Hasan Seikh, Sathi Khatum, Surmi Sheikh, Ruma Sheikh, Rejuwan Sheikh, Beauty Khatun, Supriya Sheikh, and Majeda Biswas Pinky.
“We are currently interrogating them and have filed a case against them. We will present them before the court to request police remand,” Das added.
On May 5 Tripura Police apprehended 16 Bangladeshi nationals, including five children, in two separate incidents in the Dhalai District. Superintendent of Police, Avinas Rai, disclosed that the arrests were made based on secret information received by the police.
The first operation conducted by the Gandacherra Police Station led to the detention of 11 Bangladeshi nationals, including three children, from the Mas Kumbhir Para area. Notably, the police discovered several Indian government documents in the possession of the intruders, indicating a systematic attempt to infiltrate Indian territory.
Further investigations revealed that the detainees had entered India from Bangladesh through the Hakimpur Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal three years prior. Subsequently, they migrated to Bangalore in search of employment opportunities, where they worked as labourers on construction sites. Their journey to Tripura commenced on April 30, when they boarded a train from Bangalore to Howrah. Upon reaching Howrah, they travelled to Tripura, intending to return to Bangladesh.
In a separate operation, Tripura Police, in collaboration with the Government Railway Police, detained five Bangladeshi nationals, including two children, at Ambassa Railway Station. This joint effort was based on prior information received by local police regarding the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into Tripura.
The detainees, hailing from Barisal District of Bangladesh, had crossed the border into Tripura, travelling to West Bengal in search of job opportunities, as promised by touts. The recent arrests highlight the persistent threat of illegal intrusions along the Indo-Bangladesh border and reaffirm the commitment of authorities to safeguard national security and territorial integrity. In light of this incident, it underscores the ongoing challenges of border security and illegal immigration, necessitating vigilant efforts by law enforcement agencies.
