Guwahati, Jan 6: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that 13 foreign nationals attempting to enter India illegally through Assam were intercepted and pushed back across the international border.

In a post on X, Sarma stated that the individuals were returned after due action, adding that the government was committed to ensuring that illegal immigrants were sent back to their place of origin. He did not disclose the nationality or ethnicity of those intercepted.

Several districts of Assam, including Sribhumi, Cachar, Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar, share a 267.5-kilometre-long international border with Bangladesh. An Integrated Check Post (ICP) is operational at Sutarkandi in Sribhumi district, one of three ICPs along the India–Bangladesh border in the Northeast. The other two ICPs are located at Dawki in Meghalaya and Akhaura in Tripura. Another ICP functions at Darranga in Assam along the India–Bhutan border.

Earlier, Assam Police said that it is working in coordination with the Border Security Force to prevent any unlawful entry of non-Indian nationals from Bangladesh, particularly in view of the political situation in the neighbouring country last year. Officials have also clarified that Indian passport holders will be allowed to return from Bangladesh through the notified entry points in the state.