Over the past two years, the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has reported the apprehension of over 900 suspected illegal migrants across various railway stations within its jurisdiction. This significant number underscores the ongoing challenges of illegal immigration in the region and the crucial role the Railway Protection Force (RPF) plays in detecting and preventing it.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Northeast Frontier Railway has been actively combating illegal migration, particularly from Bangladesh and the Rohingya community. From January to September 2024, the RPF successfully apprehended 256 illegal migrants and 18 Indian agents during checks at various railway stations.
One notable incident occurred on September 21, 2024, at the Agartala Railway Station, where an RPF team identified 11 suspicious individuals who couldn't provide valid identification. Upon interrogation, they confessed to illegally entering India from Bangladesh and intended to travel to Mumbai and Ahmedabad by train. These individuals were handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) for further legal action.
In February 2025, the RPF apprehended 11 illegal migrants and 2 Indian agents at Dharmanagar and Agartala railway stations. On February 15, 2025, two female Bangladeshi nationals were caught at Agartala Railway Station during a routine check and admitted to entering India illegally.
The RPF has implemented regular measures to monitor and prevent illegal migration and other suspicious activities at railway stations and on trains. Deployed personnel maintain vigilance to detect and report any illegal activities, reinforcing the railway's commitment to safety and security.
Between June 16 and June 30, 2024, the RPF apprehended 44 Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian agent at Agartala and New Alipurduar railway stations, all without valid documents. During the same period, 29 minors and one woman were rescued from various stations, highlighting the RPF's dedication to protecting vulnerable groups. A joint operation on June 30, 2024, involving the RPF, GRP, and Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) at Agartala railway station led to the interception of sixteen Bangladeshi nationals who admitted to entering India illegally.
In a related effort, Assam Police have intensified surveillance along the Indo-Bangladesh border, apprehending four Bangladeshi infiltrators and pushing them back across the border.
Recently, on July 23, 2025, three northeastern states issued alerts to check against the entry of illegal migrants from Assam, where the government has been carrying out eviction drives.
