21 people, including 16 Bangladeshi and 5 Indian nationals, were arrested in Tripura for illegal border crossing. Authorities seized contraband and tightened surveillance along the India-Bangladesh border. CM Manik Saha reiterated strict actions against infiltration and promised heightened vigilance to prevent illegal immigration into the northeastern state.
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Tripura Police have apprehended a total of 21 individuals, including 16 Bangladeshi nationals and five Indian citizens, for illegally crossing the Indo-Bangladesh border from various parts of Tripura. Officials confirmed the arrests on Thursday, highlighting the growing challenges of border management in the northeastern state.
According to a BSF spokesperson, nine Bangladeshi nationals were intercepted near the Manu Border Outpost (BOP) in the West Tripura district. Among them were four women and two children. The group had reportedly been residing in Agartala and working in private firms for approximately two years without legal documentation. They were caught while attempting to cross back into Bangladesh.
In another significant development, the BSF conducted a successful operation in Srinagar, South Tripura district, where they seized contraband items, including foreign cigarettes worth an estimated Rs 50 lakh on Wednesday. Authorities believe such smuggling activities are often linked with illegal migration networks operating along the porous border.
Separately, Tripura Police detained five Bangladeshi nationals, including two women, near Madhupur village in Sepahijala district. Based on secret intelligence and assistance from local villagers, the police acted swiftly in the early hours of Thursday. During interrogation, one of the detainees, Shahjala Khan from Kurigram district in Bangladesh, confessed that an unidentified person facilitated their illegal crossing. The group was reportedly heading toward Delhi.
Meanwhile, Tripura Police arrested six more individuals — two Bangladeshis and four Indian nationals — from Belonia in South Tripura. The Indian nationals, all hailing from West Bengal, had illegally entered Bangladesh a few months ago and returned with two Bangladeshi citizens without valid travel documents. Additionally, another Indian citizen from Tripura was detained by the BSF for illegally re-entering India from Bangladesh. He, too, lacked any valid passport or documentation.
Tripura, bordered by Bangladesh on three sides, shares an 856-kilometre-long international boundary, making it highly susceptible to illegal immigration and smuggling. Authorities have expressed serious concern about the region’s vulnerability and are working to strengthen security protocols.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has reiterated the state government’s firm stance on illegal immigration. Addressing the media on Wednesday, CM Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that the government would not tolerate the illegal entry of foreign nationals from either Bangladesh or Myanmar.
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The Chief Minister added that during a recent high-level meeting with security agencies, he had emphasized the need for greater coordination among the BSF, Tripura Police, and intelligence units to address cross-border infiltration effectively, especially in light of growing regional security tensions.
CM Saha further stated that any illegal entrants found within Indian territory would be promptly dealt with as per legal provisions and pushed back to their countries of origin. He assured citizens that security forces, including the BSF and police units stationed in the second and third tier of the state, are maintaining the highest level of vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
