Assam Police Detain 27 Bangladeshi Nationals in Two Operations

Assam Police have detained 27 Bangladeshi nationals, among them women and minors, in two separate operations conducted on Wednesday in Guwahati and Rangiya. None of those held were able to produce documents establishing their legal presence in India, police said.

The first group of 12 was picked up from the Assam State Transport Corporation campus in Guwahati after police received a tip-off about suspected illegal migrants. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Border) Kulendra Nath Deka said questioning of this group led investigators to a second set of travellers.

Acting on that lead, the Border Police alerted the Government Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force. The second group, comprising 15 people, was intercepted after the Jammu Tawi Express crossed Rangiya railway junction. They were deboarded at Bongaigaon railway station and handed over to Assam Police.

Officials said the detainees come from various parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, Sunamganj, Gopalganj, Bagherhat, Khulna and Mymensingh. Investigators are also looking into whether any broker or intermediary helped the group enter India through Meghalaya.

Preliminary questioning suggested that most of the detainees had come to India in search of work. Deka said criminal cases would be registered and the investigation would continue, focusing on how the group entered the country and whether any individuals or networks assisted their movement into Assam.

The Border Police has approached the relevant Deputy Commissioner seeking an expulsion order. Once that order is issued, the detainees will be sent back to Bangladesh, the officer said.