Northeast states of India, including Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur, have intensified border vigil to curb infiltration from Bangladesh and Myanmar. State governments are forming task forces and following MHA directives to identify, detain, and deport illegal migrants. Security agencies are on high alert along the international borders.
In a concerted move to curb cross-border infiltration, several northeastern states of India have significantly tightened surveillance and are forming dedicated task forces to identify and deport illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar, officials confirmed on Thursday.
States including Tripura, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland have stepped up security following a directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which called on all states and union territories to verify the credentials of suspected foreign nationals. If found to be in possession of fake documents, such individuals are to be deported, the MHA circular said.
In Tripura, which shares a long and porous international border with Bangladesh, the government has announced the formation of district-level task forces in all eight districts to detect and deport infiltrators. A senior police officer in Agartala said, “The Task Force has already been constituted in West Tripura and will soon be formed in the remaining seven districts.” Each task force will be led by a senior district police officer, with officers-in-charge of police stations acting as team members.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, asserted that infiltrators from Bangladesh have realised the state is no longer a safe haven. “All security agencies are on high alert to prevent any attempts at illegal entry,” he stated, highlighting increased surveillance along the border since political unrest erupted in Bangladesh last year.
In Manipur, which borders Myanmar, Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar issued a directive to all 16 districts to form district-level task forces headed by Additional Superintendents of Police. These task forces will also include representatives from Assam Rifles, BSF or CRPF, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, and biometric personnel. Kumar’s order stressed the need for robust mechanisms at inter-district, inter-state, and international boundaries. Any intercepted illegal migrant must have their biometric data recorded and be placed in designated secured shelters, without being allowed to assimilate with local populations.
In Assam, the government has ramped up eviction operations across several districts including Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Hojai, Nagaon, and Goalpara. These operations target encroachment on government and forest lands, with many of those evicted being suspected illegal immigrants. The drive has displaced numerous families, prompting concern among neighbouring states.
Reacting to these developments, the governments of Meghalaya and Nagaland have instructed their respective Deputy Commissioners to be extra vigilant. The Meghalaya government has directed coordination between district authorities, police, and the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent unauthorised entry of evictees from Assam or infiltration from Bangladesh.
The Nagaland government, in a formal order, warned that displaced persons might attempt to cross into its territory. “All Deputy Commissioners are hereby directed to heighten vigilance and take proactive measures to prevent any potential influx of illegal immigrants. This approach is vital for maintaining law and order and safeguarding the demographic integrity of our state,” the order read.
Meanwhile, in Meghalaya, the BSF has tightened security along the India-Bangladesh border. In recent weeks, BSF personnel have apprehended multiple Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, attempting to enter India without valid documentation.
The Tipra Motha Party (TMP) in Tripura, an ally of the ruling BJP and a vocal advocate of tribal rights, has been staging protests for the past two months. TMP has demanded strict implementation of the MHA’s orders and immediate action to detect and deport illegal migrants.
The issue of infiltration has long been a sensitive one in the northeastern region, which shares extensive international borders. Four northeastern states—Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam—share a combined 1,880 km border with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram share a 1,643 km border with Myanmar.
| Also Read: Tipra Motha wins ECI nod for countrywide voter roll review |
With increasing concerns over demographic shifts, law and order challenges, and national security implications, the coordinated actions by northeastern states mark a significant escalation in efforts to combat illegal immigration.
