NFR Steps Up Vigilance: 38 Bangladeshi Nationals and Indian Agents Apprehended Over Infiltration Attempts
In a sustained crackdown on illegal cross-border infiltration and human trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has intensified its vigilance across sensitive railway stations in the northeastern region. As part of its commitment to national security, the RPF, working in close coordination with intelligence and border agencies, has successfully apprehended a total of 38 individuals — including illegal Bangladeshi migrants and their Indian accomplices — during the months of April and May 2025.
According to official sources, the operations were conducted as part of a broader strategy to prevent the misuse of railway routes by illegal migrants, human traffickers, and their handlers, especially in border-adjacent states like Tripura and Assam which remain vulnerable due to their proximity to Bangladesh.
Major Operation at Agartala Railway Station
The most significant bust occurred on May 16, 2025, when a joint operation by the RPF/Agartala, Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB)/Badarpur, and Border Security Force’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (BSF/AHTU) led to the apprehension of two Bangladeshi nationals — one male and one female — along with four Indian handlers at the Agartala railway station.
Officials said that the group was attempting to travel undetected through the Indian railway network, likely en route to metropolitan cities. The suspects were intercepted based on specific intelligence inputs and surveillance, which revealed suspicious movement patterns at the station.
All six individuals were handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Agartala for legal action under relevant provisions of the Railways Act and Foreigners Act.
Arrests in Radhikapur and Agartala
Prior to the May 16 incident, RPF/NFR had conducted multiple surveillance and enforcement operations at Radhikapur and Agartala stations between May 1 and May 15, during which four more Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian accomplices were arrested.
These operations were part of a coordinated alert mechanism set up across vulnerable railway stations in the NFR zone, which spans several border-facing districts in Tripura, Assam, and North Bengal.
April Operations Yielded 33 Arrests
The month of April 2025 also saw heightened enforcement activity, resulting in the apprehension of 32 illegal Bangladeshi migrants and one Indian agent in separate RPF-led operations at Agartala, Bhanga, Dharmanagar, and Karimganj railway stations.
Following standard procedure, all detainees were transferred to the jurisdiction of the respective GRP units for further interrogation and legal proceedings. Initial investigations suggest that these migrants had illegally entered India through unfenced stretches of the border, aided by local networks facilitating their movement deeper into the country.
|Also Read : NFR Steps Up Surveillance In India-Bangladesh Border|
RPF/NFR’s Coordinated Strategy Against Infiltration
The Railway Protection Force of the Northeast Frontier Railway has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward the use of railway premises and trains for any form of illegal transit. An official spokesperson said that the RPF is operating in close coordination with state police forces, the BSF, intelligence agencies like SIB, and anti-trafficking units to monitor movements and detect suspicious patterns of travel.
“The railway network in the Northeast has unfortunately been targeted by organized syndicates involved in illegal migration and human trafficking. Our personnel are undergoing special training and receiving real-time intelligence to deal with this challenge,” the spokesperson said.
RPF/NFR has also increased patrolling, passenger verification drives, and surveillance via CCTV networks in high-risk zones. Officials said that vulnerable railway corridors, especially those near Tripura’s international border with Bangladesh, would remain under heightened security alert in the coming months.
National Security and Public Safety at the Core
With India’s eastern borders facing increasing pressure from transnational migration and human trafficking rackets, railway infrastructure has emerged as a key focal point for enforcement agencies. Experts say that the agility and reach of the RPF—combined with strong inter-agency cooperation—is essential to maintaining the integrity of India’s border management system.
The recent arrests demonstrate not only the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing but also the importance of continuous vigilance in safeguarding public infrastructure from being misused for unlawful purposes.
Authorities confirmed that such operations will continue to be intensified in the coming weeks, especially ahead of seasonal migration periods and religious festivals, when attempts at illegal border crossings typically rise.
|Also Read : North Frontier Railway enhances vigilance to protect railway assets; Undertakes joint patrols near Bangladesh border. |
