Agartala: An emotional scene of a minor son trying to resist the cops from taking his father away swept through the Sonamura subdivision in Sepahijala district of Tripura.
Infamous for being widely considered as a corridor for influx of Bangladeshi immigrants and petty smuggling, Sepahijala district shares a long border with neighbouring Bangladesh.
The incident laid bare the human cost of the unsafe migration through the porous borders of Tripura. The minor boy broke down inconsolably as he could sense that his father would never return.
The man, identified as Faruq Miah, had been living in Kulubari area of Sonamura subdivision for the past twelve years, hiding his Bangladeshi identity. According to police, he was arrested after being caught on a CCTV camera stealing rubber sheets and trays from a local house. Following interrogation, Faruq admitted that he hailed from Comilla district of Bangladesh.
For the locals, however, it was not the arrest but the sight of Faruq’s little son clinging to his father’s hand and sobbing uncontrollably that left the deepest impression.
Police officials said Faruq, a habitual substance abuser, had turned to petty thefts to sustain his addiction. “We only learnt about his Bangladeshi origin after his arrest. He will be charged for theft and for illegal entry into India,” a police officer said. As per legal procedure, Faruq will be deported to Bangladesh after completing his sentence.
Faruq had settled in Tripura over a decade ago and married a local woman, with whom he has three children. His mother-in-law, overcome with remorse, blamed herself for allowing the marriage. “My one wrong decision ruined four lives. I thought my daughter would live happily, but he chose the wrong path,” she lamented.
During interrogation, Faruq reportedly admitted to his addiction and named two others — Iayanis Miah and Mihir Miah — who are allegedly involved in drug peddling in the Sonamura area.
As police escorted him away, Faruq’s wife stood silently, clutching her younger children, while the eldest — still in tears — tried one last time to reach for his father’s hand.
For the bystanders, it was a haunting reminder that the pain of separation often cuts deeper than the punishment itself, and that human emotions can defy borders even when laws cannot.
Illegal immigration in Tripura has emerged as a major concern especially due to the unabated influx of Bangladeshi nationals in Tripura.
Apart from this incident, a total of five Bangladeshi immigrants had been detained on the same day in separate operations of Tripura Police.
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According to data shared by Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha in the state assembly, in the last three years around 3,500 foreign nationals had been detained and around 2,700 of them had been deported.
Push back operations are being conducted on a regular basis under the supervision of MTF (Mobile Task Force) unit of Tripura police in coordination with Border Security Force who act as the first line of defence in Indo-Bangla borders.
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