More than 3,705 foreign nationals, including 3,463 Bangladeshi citizens, have been arrested in Tripura since 2022 for illegally crossing into India, state Home Department officials said on Sunday, 31 May 2025. The figures, disclosed by a senior official who declined to be named, mark one of the most comprehensive public accountings of cross-border infiltration in the northeastern state in recent years.

Year-by-Year Arrest Data

According to the official, 965 Bangladeshi nationals were detained in 2022, followed by 1,014 in 2023, 947 in 2024, and 537 in 2025 so far. Of the total 3,706 foreign nationals apprehended, 227 are Rohingya, while others reportedly belong to countries including Nigeria, Cameroon, Guinea, France, and Pakistan. The majority have already been deported following completion of diplomatic and standard legal procedures. As of now, 220 arrested foreign nationals remain lodged in various jails across the state.

STFs, Fencing, and Border Vigilance

Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, told the Tripura Legislative Assembly during the recent budget session that the government is working with 'utmost seriousness' to prevent infiltration. Following the regime change in Dhaka, the state constituted Special Task Forces (STFs) in all eight districts in line with directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

'The STFs are not only working against infiltration but are also maintaining strict vigilance over potential terrorist activities, drug smuggling, fundamentalist groups, and international crime,' Saha said. He acknowledged that barbed wire fencing along certain stretches of the 856-km international border with Bangladesh remains incomplete. Except for approximately 21 km of unfenced stretches, most of the boundary has been secured to prevent smuggling, trans-border crimes, and illegal crossings.

A senior Border Security Force (BSF) official noted that border vigilance has been significantly intensified since internal violence erupted in Bangladesh during June–July 2024, particularly after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on 5 August 2024. Tripura, surrounded on three sides by Bangladesh, remains among India's most exposed states to cross-border migration and trans-border crime.

High Court Directive and Political Pressure

The Tripura High Court has recently directed the state government to submit a detailed report within three months outlining steps taken to prevent infiltration. A division bench headed by Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao issued the order while hearing a petition filed by three individuals, including Tipra Motha Party (TMP) MLA Ranjit Debbarma.

The petitioners alleged that despite MHA guidelines, the state has yet to implement sufficiently effective anti-infiltration measures. Debbarma, a senior tribal leader, responded to the court's directive by stating that infiltration must be 'stopped immediately' to safeguard internal security and protect the interests of Tripura's indigenous population. He further argued that other states are actively conducting anti-infiltration operations in line with MHA norms, while Tripura has lagged behind.

Fake Documents and the 1.48 Lakh Voter Claim

In a letter dated 30 May to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Debbarma alleged that many illegal immigrants had obtained Indian identity documents — including Aadhaar cards, voter identity cards, ration cards, Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs), and health cards — with the alleged assistance of 'dishonest officials'. He noted that the close cultural and physical similarities between Bangladeshi nationals and a large section of Tripura's permanent residents make identification particularly difficult.

'The facial features, physical appearance, language, food habits and other cultural traits of Bangladeshi nationals are often similar to those of a large section of Tripura's permanent residents, making it extremely difficult to identify illegal immigrants,' Debbarma wrote. Citing media reports, he also claimed that approximately 1.48 lakh illegal voters are residing in Tripura, though this figure has not been independently verified. He alleged that despite multiple letters to the Tripura Governor, the Chief Minister, and other senior officials, no effective action had been taken so far.

What Comes Next

The state government is expected to file its compliance report with the High Court within the stipulated three-month window. With STFs operational across all eight districts and BSF intensifying border domination, authorities face mounting pressure — from the judiciary, tribal political groups, and the Centre — to demonstrate measurable outcomes on infiltration control.