In the month of February 2023, a group of Rohingiyas were detected on a Train coming from Tripura, at Karimganj Railway Station, by the Karimganj Police. After thorough investigation, it came to light that illegal Rohingyas/infiltrators were entering India, through the Indo-Bangladesh Border. After the incident, Assam Police increased the vigil and operations resulting in 450 illegal migrants (Rohingyas/Bangladeshis) being stopped and turned back with the assistance of the Border Guarding Forces.
During the course of enquiries and questioning, it was ascertained that the illegal migrants were facilitated in entering India illegally by Touts/Middlemen, who have been playing a major role in the infiltration. During investigation, it was also learnt that the Touts exist not only on both the sides of the Indo-Bangladesh Border, but also in the mainland. Thus, began an Operation to root out the network of Touts. The Special Task Force (STF), Assam launched the Operation in July 2023 and were able to arrest 10 (ten) such Touts/Middlemen. Further investigation, revealed that the network of Touts existed across India, which was a serious National Security concern with Inter-State ramifications. Therefore, the Government of Assam requested the MHA, Government of India to transfer one of the Cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) given fact that Assam was being used as a corridor for this anti-National activity. Accordingly, NIA took up the case and by the investigation and a collaborative effort with the Assam Police. NIA & Assam Police collated the list of Touts who were involved in this nefarious crime. After meticulous planning, an country wide Operation was launched by the NIA and Assam Police during the wee hours today November 8, 2023 in association with various State Police Forces. In the Operation, so far a total of 47 Touts/Middlemen have been picked up the break-up of which is as follows:
Tripura-25
Assam-5
West Bengal-3
Karnataka-9
Haryana-1
Telengana-1
Tamilnadu-3
Assam Police teams have assisted the NIA Teams physically in Assam & Tripura and Northern India. We have 17 Teams on the ground for the Operation.