Silchar, March 27: Assam Rifles, in coordination with Cachar Police, dismantled an interstate tout network involved in illegal cross-border movement during an operation in Silchar on Thursday.

According to officials, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs about a syndicate facilitating the organized entry of foreign nationals from Bangladesh and Myanmar through Tripura and Mizoram. The network was also allegedly involved in arranging unauthorized exits from India, including for individuals facing criminal cases, deportation, and visa violations.

Four individuals were arrested in connection with the case. They were identified as Emeka (44), a Nigerian national, K Malsawmdawngi from Aizawl, Tinku Hussain Barbhuiya from Silchar, and Ramina Begum Barbhuiya from Silchar. Officials stated that preliminary investigation indicated the group’s involvement in systematic cross-border movement.

In a separate development earlier this week, joint operations were carried out by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles under Spear Corps, along with Manipur Police, across multiple districts of Manipur between March 15 and 21.

The districts covered during the operations included Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Chandel, Kakching, Thoubal, and Tengnoupal. A total of 13 cadres belonging to hill- and valley-based insurgent groups were arrested. Security forces also recovered 57 weapons, explosives, and other war-like stores.

On March 15, Assam Rifles apprehended five cadres associated with the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) near Border Pillar 73 along the Indo-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district.