In a significant move, hotel and restaurant owners in Malda, West Bengal, have decided to refuse entry to Bangladeshi nationals. This decision follows a recent incident in Bangladesh where the Indian flag was allegedly insulted, sparking outrage.

Business owners have emphasized that the decision was made in the interest of national security, expressing concerns over potential threats, including the possibility of militants entering India disguised as tourists. Despite the financial losses associated with turning away guests, many in the hospitality sector are standing firm in their resolve.

The Malda Chamber of Commerce has openly supported this stance, stating that safeguarding the nation’s dignity and security outweighs business interests. The move has garnered mixed reactions, with some lauding it as patriotic while others have raised concerns about its implications for cross-border relations.

In a major operation, the Gujarat Crime Branch arrested 50 Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in Ahmedabad. The arrested individuals were involved in various illegal activities, including the production of fake documents and prostitution. Authorities are also questioning over 200 people as part of an ongoing investigation.

DCP Ajit Rajiyan of Gujarat Police confirmed the arrests and emphasized the ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration. “We are continuing our crackdown on illegal residents,” he said, adding that more than 200 individuals are being questioned.

The arrests follow similar actions in other states, including Pune and Tripura, where Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended for possessing fake documents such as Aadhaar and PAN cards. Many of the arrested had entered India by crossing the West Bengal border on foot or by sea, with some bringing children as young as three to five years old.

Authorities have seized several fraudulent documents from the arrested individuals, including voter IDs and PAN cards, as well as mobile phones and Bangladeshi currency. Investigations are ongoing to determine the length of their stay in India and the full extent of their illegal activities. Initial findings suggest that many of the suspects have been in the country for periods ranging from six months to ten years.

Authorities are also looking into the possibility of an organized trafficking racket operating along the Indo-Bangladesh border. The trafficking network allegedly charges illegal immigrants around four thousand rupees for their entry into India, where they are provided with fake identities and relocated to different parts of the country, including Gujarat, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and Maharashtra.

The crackdown is part of broader efforts to curb illegal immigration and dismantle trafficking networks exploiting the porous borders between India and Bangladesh.

In a major breakthrough, the Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested eight terror suspects, including a Bangladesh national, Md Sad Radi, who is associated with the Al-Qaeda affiliate Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT). Radi had entered India in November with the goal of activating sleeper cells in Assam and West Bengal. After carrying out initial operations, he moved to Kerala, where he was arrested in a coordinated effort with Kerala and Bengal police.

The STF’s operation, named “Praghat,” was launched based on detailed intelligence that uncovered plans by the terrorist group to target Hindu organizations, particularly members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Radi’s movement across multiple states raised alarms, suggesting that the terror plot was larger in scope than initially anticipated.

The group, led by Md Farhan Israk, an aide of an ABT leader in Bangladesh, was plotting violent acts, including assassinations of prominent Hindu leaders, to create communal unrest and disrupt national harmony. According to the STF, the suspects were working to recruit youth into terrorist organizations and were involved in spreading radical ideologies across West Bengal and Kerala.

The arrested individuals, including Minarul Sheikh, Md Abbas Ali, and others, were found to have participated in several meetings where they devised strategies to target Hindu groups and influence vulnerable youth to join their cause. These meetings, held in locations across West Bengal like Murshidabad and Falakata, were aimed at fostering religious tensions.

Special Director General of Police Harmeet Singh highlighted the importance of this operation in curbing the spread of external jihadi elements into India, stressing that it was a crucial step in preventing a potential outbreak of violence. The STF’s success in dismantling this plot underscores the growing threat posed by terrorist networks in the region and the need for continued vigilance.