Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said the state is now witnessing exfiltration rather than infiltration across the India–Bangladesh border, despite Tripura being geographically vulnerable with Bangladesh surrounding it on three sides.
According to an official statement, the Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended 57 illegal Rohingya immigrants, 628 Bangladeshi nationals in various operations in 2024.
“There is no infiltration from across the border. Instead, the state is now witnessing exfiltration,” CM Saha said.
He added that the BSF has been instructed to return those crossing the border illegally after consultations with the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and as per legal procedures.
Saha said the Centre has adopted a strong stance against infiltration but acknowledged that guarding Tripura’s 856-km-long international border remains challenging due to its geographical location.
Large segments of the frontier are marked by uneven land and riverine stretches where barbed-wire fencing cannot be erected, he said. “Despite these challenges, the BSF is doing its best to secure the border,” he added.
Responding to reports that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in some states has triggered exfiltration, the chief minister said many individuals who had been living in the country using fake documents are now leaving. “Those living with fake documents will have to leave. After Bihar, SIR will have an impact in West Bengal as well,” he said.
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Asked whether Tripura will also undergo SIR, Saha said the Union government has made it clear that illegal foreigners will not be allowed to stay or participate in elections. “If New Delhi wants, SIR will be conducted in our state. The presence of illegal foreigners poses a threat to national security,” he stated.
He also dismissed the Opposition’s criticism of the exercise. “Infiltration was their political feed, but SIR is being carried out to ensure that only genuine Indians take part in elections,” he said.
