100 Bangladeshi, Rohingyas held in 5 months at Agartala railway station alone

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Agartala, Dec 27 (IANS) Around 100 infiltrators including 87 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested during the past five months at the Agartala railway station alone, while hundreds of other intruders from across the border were nabbed in different places of Tripura, officials said here on Friday.

After the unrest began in Bangladesh in July, especially after the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, the infiltration into India’s northeastern states increased to a large extent.

A senior official of the Government Railway Police (GRP) said that around 100 Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas were detained at the Agartala railway station between August 1 and December 24.

Besides the intruders, 28 Indian touts were also arrested for facilitating the infiltrators to cross the India-Bangladesh border illegally.

The Bangladeshi and the Rohingyas, after arrest, told the security personnel that they intended to go to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other places in India in search of jobs.

Over the last five months, around 600 Bangladeshi nationals and over 63 Rohingyas were arrested by the GRP, Border Security Force (BSF), and Tripura Police from the Agartala railway station and various other places in Tripura after they illegally entered India.

During this year (2024), 55 Rohingyas among 700 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were apprehended in Tripura and various contraband worth around Rs 50 crore seized by BSF alone.

The Rohingyas illegally entered India after fleeing their camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar where more than one million displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar have been living since 2017.

Both the detained Bangladeshi nationals and the Rohingyas told the Indian security officials that they illegally entered India in search of jobs and shelter.

A BSF spokesman said that after the Bangladesh unrest began in June-July, the border guarding force has intensified its domination and operations along the 856 km India-Bangladesh border in Tripura to prevent infiltration, exfiltration, and trans-border crimes including smuggling of contrabands.

The BSF, on a number of occasions, foiled several infiltration attempts by hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals comprising both Hindus and Muslims.

–IANS

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CMs of Northeastern states condole demise of ex-PM Dr. Manmohan Singh

Guwahati/Agartala, Dec 27 (IANS) Chief Ministers of several northeastern states expressed their deep condolences over the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who died on Thursday at the AIIMS in Delhi at the age of 92.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in a post on X said: “I have had the privilege of knowing Dr Manmohan Singh ji since 1991, when he was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam, a state he represented for 28 years.”

He said “Dr Sahab embodied humility and never surrendered to the trappings of power”.

“In all my interactions with him, his simplicity and decency combined with his intellectual prowess always stood out. During his tenure as Prime Minister, I have had the opportunity to interact with him on several occasions regarding issues pertaining to Assam, and he always gave us a patient hearing and displayed a strong conviction towards social issues,” the Assam Chief Minister said.

Expressing his condolences, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said: “Deeply saddened by the passing of former PM of India and veteran Congress leader Manmohan Singh Ji. His contributions in nation building and shaping the economic landscape of the country will always be remembered. May the departed soul find eternal peace!

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in a post on X: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of India. He was a visionary leader and his dedications to the nation have left an indelible mark on our country. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones in this time of grief. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said: “Extremely saddening to learn of the demise of former Prime Minister and distinguished economist Dr Manmohan Singh Ji. It’s a huge loss to the nation.

“His phenomenal contributions to economic reforms as the Finance Minister in the early 1990s laid the foundation of a vibrant and resilient India. Dr Singh’s passing marks the end of an era in Indian politics. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, kin, admirers, and followers. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace. Om Shanti.”

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said: “Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. His unparalleled contributions to India’s growth and governance will always be remembered. Heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace.”

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, expressing his condolences over the death of the former Prime Minister wrote on X: “Deeply saddened by the demise of former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh ji. I recall his remarkable legacy as a distinguished economist, erudite scholar, and a leader who rose from humble beginnings.

“He will be remembered for his vast contributions towards the growth of modern India. On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Meghalaya, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, admirers, and supporters. India will always cherish, remember, and take inspiration from his contributions. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”

–IANS

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Central School in Bihar’s Bihta shut indefinitely due to leopard scare

Patna, Dec 21 (IANS) The Central School on the Air Force Station premises in Bihar’s Bihta town has been shut indefinitely amid a leopard scare in the area.

The wild animal has been spotted multiple times inside the Air Force Station Campus since October 25.

The school, catering to around 1,100 children, was closed for an indefinite period to ensure safety.

The officials of the Air Force Station, district forest, and Wildlife Department have been making efforts to capture the big cat.

Students, particularly those preparing for board exams of Class 10 and 12, are facing significant academic disruption.

The reliance on online classes has yielded average results in pre-board exams, raising concerns about their performance in the final board exams.

Alongside the leopard, wild boars have been sighted near the school. Wild boars are known for aggressive behaviour, including fatal attacks on villagers, further heightening fear among locals.

Parents and residents are increasingly worried about the safety of their children and the academic future of students.

Gaurav Ojha, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Patna said: “We have placed cages inside the campus premises to capture the wild animal. A leopard approached the cage but avoided entering it. We are planning to deploy expert wildlife teams with appropriate resources to capture the leopard and safely relocate it.”

“We are using camera traps and drone surveillance to monitor leopard movements to set up targeted trap areas,” he said.

The leopard was sighted for the first time during the COVID-19 inside the Air Force Station premises. Despite this, no successful capture has been made.

The Air Force Station area spread over 900 acres is a haven for wildlife due to dense vegetation. This has resulted in frequent human-wildlife encounters and heightened risks for both animals and humans.

–IANS

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