Agartala: April 13: Border security has once again come under scrutiny following the illegal entry of seven Bangladeshi nationals through the Amzad Nagar border in Tripura’s Bilonia subdivision. The incident occurred on the evening of April 12, 2025, and the individuals are currently in police custody.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team led by IPS officer Rishav and Officer-in-Charge Shibu Ranjan Dey of Bilonia Police Station intercepted a white Maruti Eco at a checkpoint in the Manurmukh Tabla Chowmuhani area. Inside the vehicle were seven Bangladeshi nationals and the driver, Raju Biswas. All eight were taken into custody.
During interrogation, the detainees confessed to crossing the barbed-wire border around 7 PM with the help of an Indian facilitator who arranged transportation to Agartala in exchange for money. They claimed to be members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, affiliated with the ruling Awami League, and cited insecurity in Bangladesh—citing violence, robbery, and religious unrest—as their reason for fleeing.
Police recovered seven Android phones, one keypad phone, ₹1,64,780 in Indian currency, and ৳1,935 in Bangladeshi currency. While the detainees claimed to be escaping violence, suspicions have arisen over possible links to Islamic extremist groups. Authorities are investigating whether their entry is connected to attempts to incite unrest in India, particularly amid ongoing controversy over the Wakf Act amendment.
The eight accused were presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Bilonia on April 13 and have been remanded to 12 days of judicial custody. The next hearing is scheduled for April 24.
The incident has triggered concern among residents in border villages like Amzad Nagar, Matai, and Rajnagar. Locals have criticized the Border Security Force for lapses in surveillance and demanded tighter security to curb infiltration and smuggling activities along the international border.
