Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, Mar 14: Two Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended for allegedly crossing into India illegally at the Hakimpur border in North 24 Parganas district, police officials confirmed on Saturday.

The individuals, identified as Vivek Mandal and Nazrul Islam, were spotted loitering near the border late at night by patrol personnel from Swarupnagar Police Station. Acting on suspicion, the police detained them for questioning, during which they reportedly admitted to entering India without proper authorization.

Following their confession, the Swarupnagar Police formally arrested the two and produced them before the Basirhat Sub-divisional Court.

A senior district officer stated, “Two persons have been arrested. They hail from Bangladesh and came to the country illegally. Investigation is ongoing.”

The arrests come amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal’s electoral rolls. Authorities have observed that some Bangladeshi nationals without valid documents have attempted to leave the state during the process. Last year, 45 Bangladeshi nationals were detained from the Hakimpur sector alone, with multiple arrests reported in the region since.

The BJP has repeatedly highlighted concerns about illegal immigration in West Bengal, urging authorities to identify and remove undocumented individuals, including Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas, from electoral rolls and facilitate their repatriation.