Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on October 20 that authorities had apprehended and deported 18 Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly entered India illegally. The action is part of the state government’s ongoing campaign against ‘unauthorized border crossings’.
In a social media post, Sarma compared the deportations to a cricket shot, writing on X, “Just like Kohli’s iconic Straight Drive, we are also executing PUSHBACKS straight back to the territory of illegal infiltrators. Such pitch invaders have been pushed back early this morning from Sribhumi.” He added, “Diwali is really the time when the good defeats the evil.”
Earlier this month, on October 2, Sarma had announced the deportation of 22 Bangladeshi nationals on Vijaya Dashami, framing the action in religious terms: “On a day when Prabhu Shri Ram defeated Ravan, we managed to push back the modern-day evils—illegal infiltrators.”
While Sarma confirmed that Monday’s pushback occurred in Sribhumi district, he did not provide specific details about where the individuals were apprehended or the border points used for their return. Assam shares a 267.75-kilometre international border with Bangladesh, covering districts including Sribhumi, Cachar, Dhubri, and South Salmara-Mankachar, areas that have long been sensitive due to concerns over illegal migration and smuggling.
Sarma reaffirmed the government’s stance, saying, “Our fight for protecting the interests of Assam and Bharat continues.” The repeated deportations reflect Assam’s strict approach to border security, though questions remain about the detection process, verification methods, and coordination with Bangladeshi authorities.
