Shillong: Meghalaya Police detained five Bangladeshi nationals during a routine vehicle-checking operation in West Garo Hills district on Thursday, while three others fled the scene when their documents were being verified.
The incident occurred at around 6:30 am at a checkpoint at Upper Damalgre, where personnel from Araiemile Police Station were conducting routine inspections as part of heightened surveillance measures in the border state.
“Upon strong suspicion, a vehicle was stopped and documents of the occupants were being verified. However, while the verification process was underway, three of the eight occupants fled from the spot,” a senior police official said.
The remaining five failed to produce valid documents to prove their citizenship, and police found Bangladeshi SIM cards in their mobile phones.
Police have identified the Bangladeshi nationals as Sohail Rana, Chobi Ali, Tashiqul Islam, Ziyadur Sheikh, and Mohammad Nabi — all residents of Saramkundi under Godagari Police Station in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh.
Police have registered a suo motu case under Sections 21 and 24 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and initiated legal proceedings against the detainees. Intensive search operations have been launched to trace the three suspected Bangladeshis who managed to flee.
Police stations across West Garo Hills and neighbouring districts have been alerted, while village authorities and community leaders have been requested to assist in locating the absconders, officials said.
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About the Author: Manosh Das is based in Meghalaya and reports on local issues including security, politics, and social developments, providing detailed coverage of events in the Northeast region, especially Meghalaya. His work reflects ground-level realities and concerns of the state's diverse communities.
