Agartala: May 22: In a coordinated effort between Madhupur Police Station and local residents, five Bangladeshi nationals were detained on Thursday morning in the Pathariadar area of Tripura. The group, comprising three men and two women, was apprehended after being spotted loitering in the locality. Police later took them to the Madhupur Police Station, where they admitted during questioning that they were Bangladeshi citizens.
Initial reports indicate that the five individuals were attempting to cross into India with the aim of reaching Delhi for employment. They were allegedly smuggled into the country by a human trafficking network based in Bangladesh, each paying a fee of 15,000 Bangladeshi Taka. The traffickers guided them through a culvert beneath the barbed-wire border fencing near Pathariadar, a known vulnerable point within Madhupur Police Station’s jurisdiction.
After crossing the border undetected by the Border Security Force (BSF), the group wandered through the area throughout the night. Their presence raised suspicion among local residents, who immediately informed the police. Officers responded quickly and took them into custody.
Further investigation revealed that all five individuals belong to the same family from Kurigram District in Bangladesh’s Rangpur Division. They have been identified as Monir Khan, his wife Saheba Khatun, their sons Shahjalal Khan and Swadhin Khan, and daughter-in-law Dulali Khatun.
While initial findings point to the involvement of a Bangladeshi trafficking network, authorities suspect that individuals on the Indian side may also be aiding such operations. The police have launched an investigation to uncover the full extent of the cross-border trafficking network.
The arrest has raised concerns over border security and human trafficking, prompting calls for increased vigilance and stronger coordination between agencies on both sides of the border.
