Guwahati: Assam Police intercepted over 130 individuals, including Rohingya, attempting to enter India illegally from Bangladesh in the last two months, following the political turmoil that erupted in the neighbouring nation and pushed them back. This information was revealed by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on X.
The most recent interception transpired in the early hours of Friday, when the state police thwarted the infiltration attempt of two Bangladeshi nationals near the Indo-Bangla border in Karimganj district and pushed them back to their country.
The individuals were identified as Priyanka Gain, who allegedly endeavoured to enter under a Hindu name, and Shiuli Akhtar.
Reaffirming the state govt’s uncompromising stance against infiltration, Sarma, in a video message on his social media platforms, announced that the process of establishing 12 Border Outposts (BOPs) in proximity to the Indo-Bangla border is underway to bolster coordination with the Central agencies.
The BOPs will be strategically positioned in Cachar, Karimganj, Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar, which share the frontiers with Bangladesh.
Sarma said the BOPs will facilitate enhanced patrolling, intelligence sharing and technical surveillance along the border regions. Moreover, the establishment of the BOPs will aid in curbing the smuggling of cattle and drugs, he added.
Comprehensive training will be provided to the BOP personnel on border duties, including village surveys and joint patrolling with the BSF. Moreover, community policing and ambush operations to counter infiltration and cross-border crime are also in the plan to strengthen vigil along borders.
Govt is also planning to renovate 14 existing BOPs and deploy adequate manpower in understaffed BOPs.
Sarma previously stated that the primary destination of those apprehended while crossing over to India illegally was found to be Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, where they sought employment in the textile industry.
In light of the persistent infiltration attempts through the Indo-Bangla border in Karimganj, additional police forces were deployed in the district, which shares an over 98 km international border with Bangladesh.