7 Bangladeshi nationals held at Assam border

Silchar: Seven Bangladeshi nationals, including a woman, were apprehended late Tuesday night after crossing into Assam's Sribhumi district through a gap beneath the barbed-wire fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border, officials reported on Wednesday.The incident occurred in Montoli village, located in the Mahishasan area near the international boundary. The infiltrators were detected during routine night patrols by the Village Defence Party (VDP), who detained them and subsequently handed them over to the Border Security Force (BSF) and local police. According to sources, the Bangladeshi nationals were deported to Bangladesh on Dec 19 following the completion of necessary legal formalities. The arrests have heightened concerns about vulnerabilities along the border, particularly regarding how such a large group managed to enter Indian territory despite increased surveillance.The individuals detained have been identified as Mohammad Abbas Khan, Anwar Khan, Tahir Ali, Rustan Ali, Abdul Azid, Idris Ali, and Ayesha Khatun.Sukul Nath, the VDP secretary of Montoli village, stated that he visited the area with BSF and police personnel and discovered that the group had crossed through a gap under the barbed-wire fence in that section of the border.The incident has sparked tension in the area, with residents and various organizations calling for stricter monitoring and immediate repairs of vulnerable points along the international boundary to prevent further infiltration.