Assam Chief Minister Himanta Kumar Biswa Sarma announced on Monday morning that four Bangladeshi migrants were apprehended while attempting to cross the India-Bangladesh border in the Karimganj sector. The individuals, identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah, were intercepted by police at the border’s zero point, preventing their unauthorized entry into India.
This incident underscores the heightened security measures being implemented along the India-Bangladesh border in response to recent unrest in Bangladesh. The central government has issued strict directives prohibiting illegal entry from Bangladesh and ensuring the safe return of those apprehended. The directive mandates the verification of passports and visas before returning individuals to their home country.
The India-Bangladesh border, officially known as the Radcliffe Line, stretches for 4,096 kilometers, making it the fifth-longest land border globally. It divides Bangladesh’s six divisions and the Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and West Bengal.
This isn’t the first instance of Bangladeshi citizens attempting to enter India following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina. Earlier this month, on August 10, Border Security Force (BSF) troops in Meghalaya, working in conjunction with local police, apprehended seven Bangladeshi migrants and two Indian facilitators at a checkpoint. All apprehended individuals were handed over to authorities for legal proceedings.
In response to the influx of illegal migrants, the BSF in Meghalaya has implemented a multi-tier dominance strategy to tighten security along the India-Bangladesh border. Prior to this incident, the BSF had also intercepted two smugglers and seized cattle and phenedyl bottles during an operation at the border. Additionally, the BSF apprehended eleven Bangladeshi citizens attempting to enter India, with four individuals apprehended at the Bengal and Tripura borders, and seven at the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border.
