In pursuance of efforts to restrain illegal infiltration along the Indo-Bangladesh border, Assam Police have nabbed four infiltrators in Bangladesh and have transhipped them across into the adjacent country. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced the arrest of the infiltrators with two of them being women.
Assam police arrests four infiltrators
“Assam Police, keeping a close eye on the Indo-Bangladesh border, apprehended four Bangladeshi infiltrators near the international border and sent them back,” the Chief Minister posted on his social media handle on X (formerly Twitter). The four apprehended include Md Jahangir, Nucadiya Bibi, Rumana, and Md Hussain. This is a landmark day in maintaining the border security of the state and checking infiltration illegally.
Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
At a time when the Indo-Bangladesh border has been put under heavy surveillance following growing unrest in Bangladesh, the arrests seem to reflect the seriousness of the situation.
The unrest in Bangladesh has been accompanied by a significant increase in illegal crossings into Indian territory, mainly in the northeastern states. So far, Assam Police, in association with the Border Security Force (BSF), have detained 112 people who have crossed into India illegally since the unrest started. They have promptly been sent back to Bangladesh, a testimony to the no-tolerance approach Assam has taken towards illegal infiltration.
Assam shares a border of 263 km with Bangladesh, and there is high alert among the state authorities to prevent such events of unauthorized entries along the borders, especially in the backdrop of rising instability in the country. Assam’s efforts are part of a larger security strategy which is aimed at protecting the integrity of India’s borders and the social fabric of the region.
BSF Strengthens Surveillance
The Border Security Force, tasked with the mandate to guard India’s borders along the international borders, has strengthened its patrolling along the 1,885-km long Indo-Bangladesh border. It stretches across the entire Northeast region, which is characterized by rivers, marshlands, and dense forests. This makes preventing infiltration a challenging task.
“We are using a mix of technology and on-ground intelligence to ensure that the border remains secure. Drones, night-vision devices, and thermal imaging equipment have been deployed in vulnerable areas,” said a senior BSF officer when asked about the security measures taken for the coming assembly elections. A senior BSF officer said surveillance systems have been strengthened and more personnel have been deployed to prevent unauthorized border crossings.
In this perspective, patrolling by BSF and Assam police together, especially at those points where infiltration is considered to be a threat, has been viewed as necessary for the efficient surveying and security of the border areas by both the central and state forces.
Assam Police in Alert
Parallel to the BSF, Assam Police has been coming forward as an important second line of defense against illegal infiltration. DGP G P Singh had strong words for a multi-layered security strategy through which infiltrators across the BSF’s line of defense would be apprehended before reaching further Indian territory.
“Our forces are still alert. Besides the earlier deployments that were made along district borders, we are in close contact with the local populace, gathering intelligence on any suspicious activity,” DGP Singh said. Assam Police, he added, had been conducting regular checks and combing operations to flush out any infiltrators who may have managed to slip through the initial holes in the surveillance net.
Socio-Political Implications
Illegal infiltration has been a politically sensitive issue in Assam for a long time. Historical ethnicity and communal tensions resulting from cross-border migration has resulted in the inflow of illegal immigrants becoming a focal point of state politics multiple times. Civil society groups have voiced concern over the socio-political implications of uncontrolled infiltration, the same being feared to induce demographic changes and economic strain on local resources.
Chief Minister Sarma said the other day that his government was devoted to the task of protecting Assam’s border and putting an end to illegal immigration. He also emphasized concerted collaboration between centre forces and local police for effective implementation of the issue. “We won’t let any illegal entry into Assam. Our administration is fully geared up to make sure our borders are safe,” Sarma said in a statement.
For this reason, the Sarma-led Assam government has been actively reaching out to the aims of the government for border infrastructure upgradation, constructing roads on the borders, and equipping surveillance equipment that would aid the security personnel. Such a move is considered a medium-term measure in tackling illegal infiltration and saving the state’s sovereignty.
Border Villages on Edge
Many of the residents in border villages greet the increased security measures warmly, since they are constantly living in fear of infiltration. These villages are always on the front edge of the problem because, in its appearance, the illegal immigrants mainly influence the immediate local economies and social dynamics.
Speaking anonymously, a resident from one of the villages said: “We feel safer knowing the government is taking measures to protect us. Illegal crossings have caused tension in our communities, and we just want peace and security.”
The arrest and deportation of four Bangladeshi infiltrators are a witness to Assam’s continued watch on its borders. With simmering tensions in Bangladesh, Assam Police and BSF are trying to double up efforts on preventing the illegal infiltration, taking a concerted step towards the safeguarding and securing of the state as well as the nation.
An uncertain situation at home, a difficult border to watch over, and thus probably forever a key battlefront in India’s war against illegal infiltration, Assam will certainly continue on the cutting edge. Effort put in by the state to secure its borders will not only ensure short-term security benefits but also yield longer term socio-political advantages for the region.
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