Mohammad Samsuddin, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested in Assam after living illegally for 12 years, aided by Tajuddin, who falsely posed as his father in Hailakandi district of Assam. Their arrest by Assam police highlights the issue of illegal immigration through the porous India-Bangladesh border in the Northeastern region, and the local networks that facilitate such intrusions.
How easy is it for Bangladeshi Muslims to live in Assam? Mohammad Samsuddin, a Bangladeshi national, had lived in the Hailakandi district in eastern Assam, nearing the Bangladesh border, for the past 12 years. He would easily cross back to Bangladesh whenever he wanted. He was provided safe shelter by fellow Jamaati Bangladeshi Muslims in Assam, like Tajuddin from Hailakandi, who falsely identified him as his son. Assam police, with intelligence input, arrested both on September 10. This is just one case which came to light. Many cases are unfolding in Assam where Bangladeshi nationals were found with their names in the Indian voter list.
Humayun Kabir, a national of Bangladesh, was recently captured in Dhing during a police operation. On August 4, 2024, Kabir, who travelled through Dawki, Meghalaya, to enter India from the Sylhet district of Bangladesh, was discovered to possess two SIM cards from Bangladesh and a cell phone. His intention while entering Assam from Meghalaya was to exchange animals. After Kabir was located in the Nagaon district’s Khatowal Village, the residents reported him to the local police because they thought he was a foreigner. Then, when trying to buy livestock at the Dhing market, he was arrested. Three other people, Motibur Rahman, Abul Hussain, and Maqbool Hussain, were also detained for allegedly giving Kabir haven. Kabir had bought nine cows, which the police confiscated. Because of the continuous political unrest in Bangladesh, there are now more security concerns surrounding this arrest.
Meanwhile, the vigil Bordermen under the Guwahati Frontier deployed at International Border apprehended a Bangladeshi national who had inadvertently crossed into Indian territory. The incident occurred on September 10 2024, when BSF troops from the 45 Battalion in South Salamara Mankachar (Assam) saw a Bangladesh person has crossed the International Border, they apprehended the individual. In a goodwill gesture, the apprehended Bangladeshi national was handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) during a BSF-BGB flag meeting for further action.
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