Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that authorities in the state apprehended 13 foreign nationals who were attempting to enter India illegally and pushed them back across the border in accordance with legal procedures.
Confirming the action, Sarma did not reveal details about the nationality or ethnic background of the individuals.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister reiterated the state government’s firm stand against illegal immigration. “We are committed to ensuring the rights of illegal immigrants — their right to remain in their homeland and their right to be pushed back. Respecting these rights, we pushed back 13 immigrants to the other side of the border,” he said.
Assam shares a 267.5-km-long international border with Bangladesh across the districts of Sribhumi, Cachar, Dhubri and South Salmara–Mankachar. The state has an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sutarkandi in Sribhumi district, a key official point for cross-border movement between India and Bangladesh.
The Northeast also has three ICPs along the India-Bangladesh border — Sutarkandi in Assam, Dawki in Meghalaya and Akhaura in Tripura. Assam also hosts another ICP at Darranga along the India-Bhutan border.
Earlier, Assam Police said the force, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), would intensify measures to prevent illegal entry by foreign nationals from Bangladesh, particularly in the wake of political unrest in the neighbouring country last year.
Authorities have, however, clarified that Indian passport holders stranded in Bangladesh will be allowed to return through designated entry points in Assam in accordance with established procedures.