Himanta Sarma Urges Bengal to Address Influx of Illegal Migrants from Bangladesh

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed today that 138 individuals attempting to cross into India from Bangladesh have been intercepted in Assam and Tripura over the past two months. He emphasized that border states must remain vigilant to curb such illegal entry.

During a press conference, Mr. Sarma highlighted the continuous effort to apprehend foreign nationals entering Assam daily. “Every day over the last two months, we have been capturing either an individual or a group of foreigners entering our state. Despite the Border Security Force’s (BSF) best efforts, the porous border between India and Bangladesh still allows some people to slip through,” he stated.

He urged that all states should adopt a proactive approach to prevent illegal immigration, noting that Assam and Tripura are already collaborating closely on this front. Mr. Sarma called on West Bengal to join forces with the BSF and increase their detection of infiltrators.

“Tripura and Assam are both identifying foreigners with the help of the BSF. Sometimes these detections occur through joint operations, other times by either the BSF or the state police independently. It’s a coordinated effort,” he explained.

He further advised that all state governments should maintain vigilance and work closely with the BSF. “If the Bengal government also begins detecting individuals entering illegally, this could become a more systematic, well-orchestrated effort,” he added.

Addressing expectations regarding Hindu-Bengali migration from Bangladesh due to political instability, Mr. Sarma said the data shows a different reality. “It is mostly Rohingya Muslims, not Hindu-Bengalis, who are attempting to infiltrate various states in India,” he noted, underscoring the importance of accurate data in shaping public perception.