Four Bangladeshis pushed back from Assam, 16 ‘missing’

Bangladeshi nationals illegally entering Assam for jobs in Tamil Nadu trigger search operation

GUWAHATI

Four Bangladeshi nationals, who entered Assam illegally, were pushed back in the last 24 hours but 16 others went “missing” to trigger a search operation.

Police said they came in two unequal groups, one via southern Assam’s Karimganj district and the other through western Assam’s South Salmara-Mankachar district. Their destination was the same – Tamil Nadu, where they were promised jobs in garment factories.

“On Monday night, the police apprehended Md. Abu Shaid, Asadul Islam, and Md. Sarwar from the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh. One of them entered India for the second time and was carrying an Aadhaar card,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The trio wanted to travel to Chennai for work but were pushed back from the Karimganj sector, he said.

The Chief Minister said Lipi Akhtar was the fourth Bangladeshi national pushed back. She was sent back from the Dhubri sector.

“Investigation revealed Akhtar entered Indian territory in the early hours of August 18 at Sukchar, South Salmara district on foot, after multiple bus and boat rides spanning over 24 hours,” he said.