Our Bureau
SHILLONG/JOWAI, Jan 20: An intensifying police crackdown in Jowai forced 18 Bangladeshi nationals out of hiding in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering a chain of vehicle interceptions that exposed a local facilitation network operating along the Dawki route. The arrests have raised unsettling questions about how long the foreigners had been living undetected in the town and nearby areas before attempting to slip back towards Bangladesh.
The operation began around 3 am when a West Jaintia Hills police team, accompanied by the headman and Village Defence Party (VDP) of Demthring, intercepted a vehicle at Lad Demthring after it sped off towards Amlarem. The vehicle (ML-04D 7339), driven by Vishal Dkhar of Dawki, was stopped near Sanmala Guest House, where four Bangladeshi nationals were found inside.
Police sources said this was not a case of fresh infiltration.
The Bangladeshi nationals had earlier crossed over through the Dawki sector and were staying in and around Jowai. However, with police checks being intensified in recent days, the facilitators allegedly decided to move them back towards the border under cover of darkness.
During the same operation, two Indian touts — Meban Dkhar and his associate Melari Rasmut — were detained from Lad Demthring along with another vehicle (ML-04D 4739). On questioning, Meban Dkhar disclosed that three more vehicles carrying Bangladeshi nationals had already left Jowai for Dawki.
Acting on this information, police set up naka checking at the Amlarem market area. Around 3.45 am, three vehicles were intercepted in quick succession — ML-05AD 6424 driven by Blessing Pamthied of Jarain village, ML-04D 4993 driven by Twel Rongngi of Shkentalang village, and ML-04E 0640 driven by Rimi Lyngdoh of Shkentalang village. Fourteen Bangladeshi nationals were found being transported in these vehicles.
In total, 18 Bangladeshi nationals, two Indian touts and five drivers were apprehended, and five vehicles were seized. Police have not yet clarified whether the drivers were part of an organised syndicate or were acting as local transporters engaged for the movement, a line of inquiry now under investigation.
Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said a case has been registered under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and all the accused have been taken into custody for further legal action. He credited the headman and VDP of Demthring for their timely inputs, underlining once again the crucial role played by village-level vigilance in a region where the border often begins not at the fence, but in the neighbourhoods themselves.
