In a major move to strengthen internal security and prevent identity fraud, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed all states and union territories to collect biometric data of infiltrators from Bangladesh and Myanmar. The objective is to prevent re-entry of illegal migrants and detect the misuse of Indian identity documents through advanced biometric verification.
The MHA’s directive targets Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals who have illegally entered India and acquired Indian identity documents — such as Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, PAN cards, ration cards, and even passports — using forged credentials. The fresh instructions mandate that all such individuals be identified, verified and repatriated, with their biometric and demographic details uploaded to the Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP), a centralised system maintained by the Home Ministry.
Under the directives, collecting biometric data — including facial scans, fingerprints and physical demographics — is now compulsory before repatriation of any undocumented Bangladeshi or Rohingya. This data will be stored and shared across relevant government agencies to track individuals and prevent them from re-entering the country under false identities. In areas lacking internet access, the data will be collected offline and later synced with the FIP system.
The Centre will supply biometric scanners and facial recognition devices to state governments, BSF and Coast Guard units to ensure standardised data collection at borders and detention facilities.
Border forces have also received revised instructions. The Border Security Force (BSF) and Coast Guard are now required to collect full biometric and demographic information of any infiltrator caught at the border— even if the individual is being pushed back and has no criminal history. This ensures all movements are documented, regardless of the intent or duration of stay.
The MHA has also asked all states to form dedicated task forces for identifying, verifying and tracking illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas living within India. Once their identity is confirmed, they are to be repatriated in coordination with the Centre— after capturing all biometric data.
The information collected will be shared with key government institutions including the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Election Commission, the Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Division) and other bodies responsible for issuing identity documents and disbursing government welfare. The goal is to flag and deactivate fraudulent documents and prevent misuse of Indian benefits by foreign nationals.
Recent arrests have highlighted the urgency of the issue. In Assam, an ABT (Ansarullah Bangla Team) militant named Sub Radi was found to be enrolled in voter lists in two separate constituencies in Murshidabad. In Kolkata, Bangladeshis arrested in Park Street and Kalighat were found with Aadhaar cards, passports, Ayushman Bharat cards and driving licenses— all obtained through fake documents. Investigations uncovered a major passport racket that issued over 200 Indian passports to Bangladeshi nationals.
The crackdown comes in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, after which the government intensified its campaign to identify and remove illegal foreign nationals. The MHA's latest measures reflect a shift toward a data-driven, centralised approach to border control and national security.
With biometric tracking, real-time data sharing and inter-agency collaboration, the Centre aims to close existing loopholes, prevent document misuse and ensure that illegal entrants cannot return or vanish into the population again.
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