Reported by Mrinal Banik
Agartala: A Bangladeshi couple belonging to the Hindu community was detained in Tripura’s South district after allegedly entering India without valid travel documents, police said on Thursday.
The couple, identified as Santanu Debnath and his wife, was apprehended in the Debdaru area during a routine verification following specific inputs about suspicious movement.
According to police, the couple was travelling by bus when they came under suspicion due to inconsistencies in their statements and their inability to produce valid identity documents.
“We intercepted the vehicle based on information received and questioned two passengers whose behaviour appeared suspicious. During verification, they failed to provide documents establishing their Indian citizenship,” an officer of the Debdaru police outpost said.
The couple was taken into custody for questioning, during which they allegedly admitted to being Bangladeshi nationals who had entered India without authorisation.
Police said two mobile phones and two Bangladeshi SIM cards were recovered from their possession.
During preliminary interrogation, Santanu Debnath allegedly told investigators that he was from the Chittagong region of Bangladesh and had entered India with his wife in search of better living conditions.
According to police sources, the couple claimed they crossed the international border through an unfenced stretch before travelling further into the country. Preliminary findings suggest they entered Tripura through a border area in Gomati district before proceeding towards South Tripura.
Investigators are examining the route used by the couple and the circumstances under which they entered India. Officials are also trying to ascertain whether any local facilitators or organised networks assisted them after they crossed the border.
A case has been registered, and further legal action is being initiated under provisions relating to illegal entry and stay in the country, police said.
Tripura shares an 856-km international border with Bangladesh and has witnessed periodic instances of illegal cross-border movement, prompting heightened surveillance along vulnerable stretches of the frontier.
The investigation is continuing.