The Government Railway Police (GRP), deployed across six police stations in Tripura, has detained 434 illegal immigrants, including Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya, over the past 1.5 years for illegally crossing the international border.
An official speaking on condition of anonymity disclosed that 294 immigrants were arrested in 2023, with 76 identified as Rohingyas and the remainder as Bangladeshi nationals.
Since January 2024, an additional 140 immigrants have been apprehended, with only three Rohingyas among them.
Tripura shares an 856 km long international border with Bangladesh, facilitating the influx of illegal immigrants who often rely on middlemen, known as touts, for assistance in crossing.
"In addition to immigrants, we arrested 51 Indian touts last year and 26 this year so far," the official stated, noting their role in facilitating illegal crossings.
The number of cases related to these detentions totaled 75 last year and has reached 28 this year, making a cumulative 103 cases.
Illegal immigrants typically use Agartala Railway Station to board express trains bound for major cities across India, where they seek employment in various sectors such as rag picking, masonry, and construction.
"Many receive initial support from relatives already residing in urban areas," the official added.
Alongside efforts to curb illegal immigration, the Tripura GRP has also intensified efforts against drug trafficking. In 2023, they apprehended 239 drug peddlers and seized significant quantities of narcotics including over 2,300 kg of ganja, 8,000 bottles of banned cough syrup, and 314 grams of heroin.
In 2024, 150 drug peddlers have been arrested so far, with seizures continuing.
"Recently, arrests were made under the Arms Act when three individuals were found carrying a pistol on a train," the official concluded, highlighting ongoing efforts to maintain law and order amidst multiple challenges.
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