Last Updated:
Once limited to isolated attempts, infiltration through the north-eastern state of Tripura has now become more structured and organised, sources say
Bangladeshi women Nadia Akhtar Mim (19) of Barisal and Rupali Akhtar (38) of Manikganj were arrested at Agartala railway station. Pic/News18
A surge in cross-border infiltration activity has been a major security concern, as multiple operations in Tripura have exposed a shifting modus operandi by Bangladeshi infiltrators and their Indian collaborators.
Once limited to isolated attempts, infiltration through the north-eastern state of Tripura has now become more structured and organised, sources say. Investigators believe that what was earlier managed by local agents is now supported by a wider pan-Indian network.
This shift was highlighted by the arrest of Sumendra Pal, a 22-year-old from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, who was detained alongside three others, including a Bangladeshi national, at Agartala railway station on Wednesday. The group had planned to travel via train to Kolkata and then to Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai, police said.
Based on a joint operation involving Agartala Government Railway Police (GRPS), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Border Security Force (BSF), and intelligence units, four individuals were apprehended:
- Mehedi Hasan (33) – Faridpur, Bangladesh
- Iqbal Hossain (21) – Fitra Madhyapara, Gomti District, Tripura
- Riaz Hossain (19) – Fitra Madhyapara, Gomti District, Tripura
- Sumendra Pal (22) – Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
They were intercepted at Agartala railway station after entering India illegally from Bangladesh and were reportedly en route to Kolkata. A case has been registered at the Agartala GRP police station, and the suspects are being interrogated further.
In a separate operation, two Bangladeshi women—Nadia Akhtar Mim (19) of Barisal and Rupali Akhtar (38) of Manikganj—were also arrested at the same railway station. Authorities recovered iPhones and a significant amount of Indian currency from them, indicating the use of modern communication devices and cash channels to facilitate their movements.
“They were planning to travel to Mumbai via Kolkata with the help of Indian agents,” said a police source. A dedicated team of female GRP officers is leading the investigation in their case.
A far more alarming breach was discovered in the Amjad Nagar area near Belonia last week, where seven Bangladeshi nationals illegally crossed the border, evading security at three separate Border outposts (BOPs). A secret tip-off led to the interception of a white Maruti Eeco at Manurmukh Tabla Chowmuhani Naka checkpoint, with seven Bangladeshi citizens and one Indian driver on board.
The arrested include:
- Robin Hossain (29)
- Mohammad Rafi (25)
- Amjad Hossain (27)
- Shahidur Jjaman (28)
- Fazal (24)
- Rehan Mollah (21)
- Gias Uddin (35)
The vehicle driver, Raju Biswas, was also detained. The group admitted to crossing into India with help from Indian agents in exchange for money. Authorities recovered seven Android phones, a keypad phone, Rs 1.64 lakh in Indian currency, and 1.01 lakh Bangladeshi taka.
They are currently under a five-day police remand, and a case (No. Belonia PS-27/25) has been registered under Sections 61(2)/143(3) and the IPP Act. The CJM Belonia Court has remanded them to 12 days of judicial custody, with the next hearing set for April 24, 2025.
With inputs from Kajal Kairi, News18 Agartala
- Location :
Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India