NIA nabs 47 touts from various states including 25 from Tripura for illegal entry of Rohingyas into India

Agartala, November 8: Rohingyas are illegally entering India through the Indo-Bangla border with the help of various touts or middlemen. In this regard, Assam Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) jointly conducted operations in various states including Tripura. A statement issued by the Assam Police said that a total of 47 tout or middlemen from various states, including 25 from Tripura, were arrested in that operation.
According to the statement, a group of Rohingyas was identified in a train coming from Tripura at Karimganja railway station in February this year. According to the police investigation, they entered illegally through the India-Bangladesh border.
After that incident, surveillance was increased by the Assam Police. It is reported that 450 Rohingyas who entered illegally during the operation were returned with the help of Border Guarding Force.
According to the statement, after their interrogation, it was found that the migrants were helped by touts or middlemen to enter India illegally, who are playing a major role in infiltration.
During the police investigation, it was also learned that the existence of touts is not only on both sides of the India-Bangladesh border, but also on the mainland. It was then in July this year that the Special Task Force (STF) and Assam Police launched an operation to root out the network of touts. Ten touts or middlemen were arrested in that operation. The investigation also revealed that a network of touts existed across India.
Therefore, the Government of Assam requested the Government of India to transfer a case to the NIA for using the state of Assam as a corridor for anti-national activities. Accordingly, the NIA took up the case and 17 teams launched a nationwide operation in a collaborative effort with the Assam Police.
A total of 47 middlemen were arrested in that raid, including 25 from Tripura, 5 from Assam, 3 from West Bengal, 9 from Karnataka, 1 from Haryana, 1 from Telangana and 3 from Tamil Nadu. 25 people arrested from Tripura were flown to Delhi on Wednesday in a special Indian Air Force aircraft.