TURA, Oct 3: In a significant development, West Garo Hills (WGH) police apprehended 17 Bangladeshi nationals, including two women, under Hallidayganj police station on Thursday morning.
This follows the arrest of 12 other illegal entrants from Bangladesh in separate incidents across West and South West Garo Hills in the past week.
The 17 individuals were apprehended in Sobribari village while traveling in a public vehicle, allegedly en route to Guwahati and further destinations like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for work.
They revealed that they were aided by a contact in Bangladesh who provided fake Aadhaar cards in exchange for money.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sharif Roy (28), Chayan Roy (22), Nahid Sheikh (22) Mizanur Sheikh (19), Habib Sheikh, Alamgir Sheikh (26), Shabbir Sheikh (20), Saidul Islam (25), Shipon Sheikh (35), Maroof Sheikh (26), Amin Sheikh (18), Rajab Ali (18), Kabir Sheikh (38) Md Robiul Islam (38), Kabir Sheikh (32), Shabana Sheikh (22), Parul Sheikh (18). Police sources indicated that this marks the fourth such incident in recent days, raising concerns over increased infiltration following the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina.
A fear of radical elements taking advantage of the situation to get into the Indian territory has also kept the BSF on their toes.
However, despite their best efforts, some illegal immigrants may have still been able to seep through the borders of Garo Hills.
Meanwhile, vigilant troops of the BSF apprehended five Bangladeshi nationals traveling in an auto rickshaw from the Dalu side towards Purakhasia.
On October 2, a patrolling party of BSF observed an auto rickshaw halting some distance away from where the troops were performing duty.
A total of five suspected Bangladeshi nationals got out and attempted to flee only to be apprehended later by the BSF troops.
“It was later learned that they had come from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where they were working in a Garment factory of Chennai, and had intended to illegally cross into Bangladesh,” the BSF said, adding that the apprehended Bangladeshi nationals were handed over to Dalu Police Station.
