RPF nabbed 586 Bangladeshis, 318 Rohingyas since 2021: Officials

The Railway Protection Force RPF has nabbed 586 Bangladeshis 318 and Rohingyas to prevent illegal migration since 2021 the officials said on SundayAn official statement said the RPF has been collaborating with Border Security Force BSF local police and intelligence units to secure railway networks against illegal infiltrationThe Railway Protection Force has successfully apprehended 916 individuals including 586 Bangladeshi nationals and 318 Rohingya since 2021 showing their commitment to safeguard the nation it saidIn June and July 2024 RPF apprehended 88 Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants in areas under the Northeast Frontier Railway NFR Some of these individuals confessed to entering India illegally and were intercepted while traveling by train to destinations such as Kolkata it further saidIn October 2024 reports highlighted that despite increased security measures along the Bangladesh border illegal migrants continue to infiltrate India using Assam as a transit route and railways as their preferred mode of travel to reach other parts of the country These incidents underscore the challenges faced by Indian authorities in monitoring and securing railway networks against illegal infiltration The use of railways by infiltrators not only facilitates their movement across states but also complicates efforts to detect and prevent unauthorised entry into the country the statement saidFor considering the above issue the RPF has intensified its efforts by collaborating with key security agencies such as the Border Security Force BSF local police and intelligence units This interagency approach has significantly enhanced operational efficiency enabling swift identification and detention of individuals involved in illegal migration it saidThe statement said that despite its significant contributions the RPF is not directly empowered to prosecute apprehended individuals Instead detained persons are handed over to police and other authorised agencies for further legal proceedings In the light of recent political turmoil going on in the neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and Myanmar and geopolitical developments and socioreligious factors in these regions have led to an influx of individuals seeking refuge employment and shelter deep within Indias hinterlands It remains a significant concern for national security While precise statistics on the number of infiltrators using railways are limited recent reports indicate that illegal migrants often utilize railway networks to transit through regions like Assam and Tripura en route to other parts of India the statement saidThe RPF has risen to the challenge of addressing this critical issue playing a pivotal role in identifying and apprehending illegal migrants attempting to penetrate Indias borders These individuals are not only a matter of national security concern but are also highly vulnerable to exploitation including human trafficking for bonded labor domestic help prostitution and even organ harvesting it said