Ampati: The Meghalaya Police successfully intercepted a vehicle carrying five suspected Bangladeshi nationals in South West Garo Hills District during a late-night operation on Thursday.
The operation was carried out by Zikzak Police Patrol Post, led by SI Diganta Hajong, during a routine vehicle check at SH-12, near KGBV School in Zikzak, around 11:42 pm.
The vehicle was being driven by Md. Nur, a resident of Nandia village in Assam’s South Salmara District.
Upon inspection, the five occupants travelling in the vehicle were found in possession of suspected forged documents, including five Aadhaar cards, two mobile phones with an Indian Airtel SIM card, and items of Bangladesh origin such as nasal drops and Lorix cream.
The initial verification conducted using the mAadhaar app revealed that the Aadhaar cards were invalid and potentially forged.
Upon interrogation, the occupants admitted to illegally entering Indian territory through the Indo-Bangladesh border near Baghmara in South Garo Hills. They revealed their intention to travel to Kolkata to work as labourers.
The five individuals have been identified as Md. Jahangir Ali, Md. Jaidul Islam, Md. Durul Ali, Md. Maruf Ali and Md. Babu Sheikh.
Vikash Kumar, Superintendent of Police of South West Garo Hills, said that a case has been registered against the five arrested persons and investigations are underway. Police have taken all seized items into custody.
SP Kumar highlighted that the interception is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration through the Indo-Bangladesh border.
He stated, “In the past 3 months, 27 Bangladeshi nationals have been apprehended in South West Garo Hills. We are working closely with the Border Security Force (BSF) and other agencies to strengthen border security. The support of the local community has been instrumental in reporting suspicious activities.”
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To address the recurring issue, surveillance mechanisms have been intensified to prevent illegal crossings and ensure the safety of the region.
