Assam strengthens border security measures following the pushback of three Bangladeshi nationals who entered India due to economic hardships in Bangladesh.
On Tuesday night, three Bangladeshis were pushed back from the India-Bangladesh border by the police in Karimganj. The individuals, identified as Mohammad Zubair Sheikh, Jewel Sheikh, and Ruma Khatun, were apprehended around 12:50 AM and returned to Bangladesh.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the incident during a press conference on Wednesday. He emphasized that the state’s border security measures are stringent. Sarma clarified that contrary to popular belief, not all individuals crossing the border are Hindu; some are Muslims fleeing economic hardships. The three Bangladeshis revealed that they left their country due to a food crisis and the shutdown of the textile industry.
Sarma noted that additional police forces have been deployed in Karimganj, and Tripura is also taking strict measures against infiltrators. He highlighted that while many believe that Bangladeshi migrants are mostly Hindu, this assumption is incorrect as both Hindu and Muslim Bangladeshis are crossing the border.
He also mentioned that about 50 Bangladeshis have been pushed back recently, and he plans to write to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ensure that the identities of migrants reaching Coimbatore, where they might be employed in the textile industry, are verified.
Sarma also addressed concerns about political refugees, stating that the current influx consists mainly of economic migrants. He urged vigilance regarding social media posts that might be anti-India and asked the Intelligence Bureau to keep a close watch on such activities.