Police told to step up foreigners' detection

Guwahati: Assam govt has ordered Assam Police Border Organization to intensify detection of illegal immigrants entering Assam through its international borders following reports of increase in the number of illegal immigrants being detected and presence of suspected non-Indian nationals in upper Assam and north Assam districts.

The state political (B) department, in its order, has laid down a series of measures to the Assam Police Border Organization for implementation “with all earnestness.”

The office memorandum of the department said from January 2024 to date, a total of 54 illegal immigrants have been detected — 48 in Karimganj district, four in Bongaigaon district, and one each in Haflong and Dhubri districts. Of these, 45 were successfully pushed back into their country of origin, while nine were arrested in Karimganj.

The memorandum stated that detection of suspected non-Indian nationals and foreign-origin individuals reported in certain areas of the state, particularly in upper Assam and north Assam districts ,“is critical, given the potential threat to national security.”

The measures include strengthening border surveillance, coordination with BSF and other central agencies to facilitate seamless information sharing and joint operations for enhanced border security. “Enhance intelligence-gathering mechanisms, focusing on cross-border networks and infiltration routes. Deploy trained personnel in key areas to gather and process actionable intelligence for timely intervention,” the political department has outlined.

The department has also asked the border organization to conduct community awareness programmes in border areas to encourage local residents to report suspicious movements or new settlers, aiding in the early detection of potential illegal immigrants and ensure that all identified cases of illegal immigrants are promptly documented and forwarded to the Foreigners’ Tribunals for adjudication.

Further, Assam Police headquarters has been asked to deploy additional forces as per ground level assessment to assist the border police in these sensitive border districts vulnerable to illegal influx.

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