Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that security forces in Assam deported 21 individuals to Bangladesh from the Sribhumi district. These individuals were allegedly in the state illegally. The deportation occurred around midnight on Friday. Sarma communicated this action via a post on 'X', stating, "Freedom at midnight? Quite literally! Around midnight today, 21 illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators who entered India with nefarious intentions were freed and pushed back to Bangladesh, where they belong, from the Sribhumi border". He further emphasized that the identification and deportation processes would continue.

The Assam government has recently intensified its efforts to identify and deport illegal migrants. Approximately 400 people have been "pushed back" in recent months. Out of these, around 58 were from the Sribhumi district alone. Sarma has stated the state government's commitment to maintaining an infiltration-free Assam.

In response to these actions, Debabrata Saikia, a senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Assam, has written to Home Minister Amit Shah. Saikia urged for the strengthening of security along the Assam-Bangladesh border. According to the letter, which was reviewed by The Economic Times, Saikia brought attention to the recurring "pushback" operations undertaken by the Assam Police along the Assam-Bangladesh border since May 2025. Saikia stated that the state government has acknowledged these operations and deportations of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals on multiple occasions, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of border management and coordination mechanisms.

Saikia's letter further noted that a new pushback strategy was announced on May 10 earlier this year, followed by operations starting on May 23, during which over 50 individuals were apprehended. Subsequent operations occurred on May 31, June 8, June 27, July 6, and August 3, leading to the repatriation of over 300 individuals. Saikia's letter also highlights that these operations are taking place despite the deployment of the Border Security Force (BSF) across the 267.5-km stretch of the Assam-Bangladesh border.

The BSF has reportedly intensified its vigilance along the 1,885 km long Indo-Bangladesh border in the Northeast, particularly since the disturbances began in Bangladesh last year. Assam Police are also maintaining a high alert along the border to prevent illegal entry into the state.