CM Himanta: 24 illegal immigrants held in Assam during Durga Puja
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on 19 October 2026 that Assam Police detained 24 illegal immigrants hiding in homestays during Durga Puja, acting on tip-offs. Sarma distinguished between festival visitors and those without legal status, reaffirming the state's round-the-clock enforcement stance.
Key Takeaways
24 illegal immigrants were detained from different homestays in Assam on 19 October 2026 during the Durga Puja festival period.
The operation was tip-off based, with Assam Police targeting short-stay accommodation used as cover amid festival movement.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly distinguished between legitimate Puja visitors and those without legal status, promising 'stringent action as per law.' The drive is rooted in the Assam Accord of 1985 , which sets 24 March 1971 as the cut-off date for identifying illegal immigrants.
The 2019 National Register of Citizens update provides a verification framework against which detained individuals' status can be checked.
Detentions are expected to be followed by Foreigners Tribunal referrals and possible deportation proceedings.
While most of Assam stepped out to hop between Durga Puja pandals on Monday evening, Assam Police was running a very different kind of operation — one that ended with 24 illegal immigrants caught hiding inside homestays across the state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the detentions on 19 October 2026, drawing a sharp contrast between the state's welcome for Puja revellers and its zero-tolerance stance for those without legal status.
Posting on X, CM Sarma framed it in a single pointed line: 'Most of Assam: pandal-hopping. Assam Police: illegal hunting!' Acting on tip-offs, officers tracked the suspects to different homestays — lodges that would ordinarily be packed with festival tourists — and made the arrests. Sarma made clear the message was deliberate: 'Assam welcomes Puja revellers but for illegals, stringent action as per law will be taken.'Festival cover and the homestay trail
The timing was not accidental. The surge in inter-district and inter-state movement that accompanies Durga Puja — one of the largest public festivals in Assam — creates natural cover for individuals trying to blend into crowds or move between locations. State police appear to have anticipated exactly that, positioning tip-off networks to flag unusual occupancy patterns in short-stay accommodation. The result: 24 detentions across multiple homestay locations in a single operation.
Sarma's post tagged @assampolice and noted the force remains alert '24*7' — a signal that the festive calendar has not softened enforcement priorities. It also implicitly warns that state intelligence is actively monitoring the hospitality sector, not just border crossings.
The Accord framework behind every detention
These drives do not happen in a vacuum. Assam's crackdowns on illegal immigrants trace directly to the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed 24 March 1971 as the legal cut-off date for identifying foreigners. Any person who entered Assam after that date without documentation can be detected and deported under the framework. The National Register of Citizens, updated and published in 2019, added another layer — creating a state-level database against which individual cases can be verified.
CM Sarma has made immigration enforcement a signature governance plank since taking office in May 2021. Festival seasons, when population movement spikes and enforcement logistics grow more complex, have historically been a preferred window for detection drives — the calculus being that those without papers may surface precisely when they feel most hidden in plain sight.
What follows the detentions
The immediate question is what happens to the 24 individuals now in custody. Standard procedure under Assam's foreigners-detection machinery involves verification of documents, referral to Foreigners Tribunals where appropriate, and — if the tribunal confirms illegal status — deportation proceedings in coordination with central border-management agencies. Watch for official police updates on verification outcomes and any coordination with the Border Security Force or central immigration authorities.
For now, Assam has sent a message that travels further than any single arrest: that the state's festive generosity and its enforcement resolve can coexist — and that the two are, in the government's telling, two sides of the same policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many illegal immigrants were caught in Assam during Durga Puja 2026?
24 illegal immigrants were detained by Assam Police on 19 October 2026 , acting on tip-offs that the suspects were hiding in various homestays during the Durga Puja festival.
What will happen to the illegal immigrants detained in Assam?
Under Assam's foreigners-detection framework, detained individuals are typically subjected to document verification, referred to Foreigners Tribunals if their status is in question, and — if confirmed as illegal immigrants — face deportation proceedings, often in coordination with central border agencies.
What is the legal basis for Assam's crackdown on illegal immigrants?
The primary legal basis is the Assam Accord of 1985 , which set 24 March 1971 as the cut-off date for identifying foreigners. The National Register of Citizens , updated in 2019 , further supports verification efforts.
Why did Assam Police conduct this operation during Durga Puja?
Festival seasons create large-scale population movement that can provide cover for individuals without legal documentation. Assam Police, acting on specific tip-offs, used this period to detect illegal immigrants hiding in homestays amid the surge of legitimate Puja visitors.
Who is Himanta Biswa Sarma and what is his stance on illegal immigration?
Himanta Biswa Sarma has been the Chief Minister of Assam since May 2021 and is a senior BJP leader and convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance. He has made immigration enforcement a central plank of his governance, regularly ordering and publicising drives to detect and deport illegal immigrants.
