Tripura government to set up district-level task forces to detect and deport illegal infiltrators from Bangladesh and Myanmar. This move follows the MHA directive, amid growing concerns raised by the Tipra Motha Party. The state aims to tighten border security and preserve indigenous socio-economic stability.
The Tripura government has announced the formation of district-level task forces to identify and deport illegal infiltrators residing in the northeastern state, particularly those entering from neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar. This decision comes amid heightened political pressure and national directives aimed at curbing illegal immigration in border states.
According to senior officials, the state has already constituted a Task Force in the West Tripura district. Similar task forces are currently being set up in the remaining seven districts. “A senior police officer of each district will head the Task Force, with the officers-in-charge of local police stations serving as its members,” an official said, requesting anonymity.
The formation of these task forces aligns with a recent circular from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which instructed all states and Union Territories to verify the credentials of suspected illegal immigrants. As per the MHA directive, any foreign national found with fake or illegally obtained documents will be subjected to deportation procedures.
This development also coincides with a series of protests and agitation programs launched by the BJP’s ally, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which has been actively demanding stricter enforcement of deportation measures. TMP leaders have voiced strong concerns over the continued presence of illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, claiming it poses a threat to the socio-economic and cultural fabric of Tripura, particularly for the tribal communities.
TMP legislator and senior leader Ranjit Debbarma said, “While BJP-ruled states like Assam and Gujarat have taken aggressive action against illegal immigrants, Tripura lags in this area. The state must act with similar urgency.”
TMP chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma has also repeatedly warned about the long-term impact of unchecked infiltration on the indigenous population. “If immediate action is not taken, the socio-economic balance and customary rights of the tribals in Tripura will be severely jeopardized,” he told reporters. He urged the government to initiate immediate and strong measures to push back those residing illegally in the state.
Adding to the party’s efforts, TMP’s senior leader and Forest and Environment Minister Animesh Debbama reaffirmed, “No infiltrator will be allowed to stay in Tripura. This is our firm stand.”
He further revealed that a nine-member TMP delegation, led by Pradyot Manikya, will visit the Election Commission of India next week to address key issues concerning the integrity of the electoral roll. “We will demand a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral list in Tripura, as done recently in Bihar, to weed out fake voters and identify infiltrators,” Debbama added.
Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, reassured the public about the government’s commitment to national security. “Infiltrators now know that Tripura is no longer a safe haven for them. Our security agencies are fully alert and are maintaining a strict vigil along the border,” Saha stated during a recent press briefing.
He noted that after the political unrest in Bangladesh last year, the state intensified border surveillance to prevent infiltration attempts. Saha has also convened multiple high-level meetings with top security officials, including those from the Border Security Force (BSF), to ensure seamless coordination among agencies.
Tripura shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh, which surrounds the state on three sides. This geographic reality makes Tripura particularly vulnerable to cross-border migration and related crimes. While much of the border has already been fenced, isolated unfenced stretches remain, posing security risks.
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Authorities are hopeful that the district-level Task Forces, in close coordination with central agencies and local law enforcement, will strengthen efforts to detect, detain, and deport infiltrators effectively.
With growing pressure from both political allies and the public, the Tripura government is under scrutiny to act decisively in safeguarding the state’s demographic stability and internal security.
