Assam: Bangladeshi Nationals Attempt Illegal Border Crossing, Police Push Them Back

Digital Desk: In the early hours of Monday, Assam Police successfully intercepted an attempt by four Bangladeshi nationals to illegally enter India through the Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border. The individuals, identified as Motiur Seikh, Mushiar Mullah, Tania Mullah, and Rita Mullah, were stopped at the zero point by the police, preventing their unauthorized entry.

This incident occurs amid rising tensions in Bangladesh, which have surged following the resignation of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024, after widespread anti-government protests. Recently, there have been reports of many Bangladeshis gathering near the border in an attempt to cross into India. The Border Security Force (BSF) remains on high alert and has detained several individuals attempting to infiltrate the Indian side amid the ongoing unrest.

Earlier, a video emerged showing a BSF officer addressing a large group of Bangladeshis trying to enter India. The footage, reportedly taken in the Lalmonirhat district on the Bangladeshi side near West Bengal's Cooch Behar, shows hundreds of people standing chest-deep in water, pleading for entry. The officer, speaking in Bengali through a loudspeaker, urged the crowd to stay calm, stating, "We cannot take you inside as per our wish... Our senior officers have also come here, and on their behalf, I want to tell you that this problem cannot be solved in one day."

In a separate coordinated operation on August 10, 2024, BSF troops, in conjunction with Meghalaya Police, apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals and two Indian facilitators near the Indo-Bangladesh border. 

This operation, conducted at a checkpoint in response to the unrest in Bangladesh, led BSF Meghalaya to implement enhanced security measures along the border using a multi-tiered approach. The detained individuals have been handed over to local authorities for further legal proceedings.