In a case of cross-border infiltration, Meghalaya police apprehended a Bangladeshi national along with two alleged facilitators near the Seven Sisters falls viewpoint on Saturday. The arrest comes amid growing concerns about illegal movement across the India-Bangladesh border.
The incident occurred around 4 PM on Sunday when a mobile patrol unit from Sohra Police Station set up a routine checkpoint near the tourist hotspot. Officers signaled a silver Maruti A-Star (registration number AS-01-AP-0928) to stop, but the vehicle sped past the police barricade, triggering a swift chase. The car was intercepted a short distance away.
Following the interception, the driver and passengers were detained and escorted to Sohra Police Station for verification. During the inquiry, one of the occupants was identified as Robiul Islam, 32, a Bangladeshi national from Tengra Khali, Paderhat, Pirojpur, Bangladesh. Police sources said Islam had been working as an electrician in Bengaluru and was attempting to return to Bangladesh through unauthorised routes.
Police suspect that Islam may have used this route multiple times, raising concerns about a broader network involved in facilitating illegal cross-border movement. Two other individuals in the vehicle — Sujit Hajong, 32, and Ravi Singh, 38, both residents of Ichamati Bazaar in East Khasi Hills district — were also detained on suspicion of aiding the infiltration attempt.
“The apprehended Bangladeshi national was likely using informal channels to exit the country, aided by locals familiar with the terrain. This incident highlights a worrying trend of organised infiltration routes being used under the guise of civilian travel,” a police official said.
All three are currently under interrogation as authorities work to uncover the scale of the cross-border network. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Foreigners Act, and further investigation is ongoing.
Security agencies have stepped up vigilance in border areas of Meghalaya, particularly in regions with known infiltration routes, to curb illegal entry and exit through porous stretches of the international boundary.
Follow us
