India intensifies crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigration

Authorities in Northeast India are intensifying efforts to curb illegal immigration from Bangladesh following recent apprehensions and reports of organized smuggling networks.

In Assam, police arrested 27 Bangladeshi nationals, including men, women, and minors, during operations in Guwahati and Rangiya. The group, which reportedly entered via Meghalaya, was found without valid documentation. Many individuals stated they entered India in search of employment. Authorities are currently seeking expulsion orders to deport the group back to Bangladesh.

In Meghalaya, challenges to border security persist as approximately 21 percent of the 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border remains unfenced, partly due to local landowner opposition. Recent investigations have uncovered deeper criminal rackets, including the use of fake PAN and Aadhaar cards to help foreign nationals pose as Indian citizens. Local community groups and youth organizations have reportedly assisted in identifying illegal entries in certain districts.