Indian authorities have arrested 25 Bangladeshi nationals in separate operations across West Bengal on charges of illegal infiltration.

The arrests were made in Nadia and Uttar Dinajpur districts, with police also detaining an Indian national accused of facilitating their entry.

According to West Bengal Police, 16 Bangladeshis were arrested under the Dhantala police station in Nadia district on Friday (May 9). 

Acting on a tip-off, police raided Nirala Para village in Dattapulia and detained the individuals, who had allegedly entered India without valid travel documents.

An Indian broker who reportedly aided their movement across the border was also taken into custody. 

During interrogation, the detainees said they had crossed into India several months ago with the help of local brokers and travelled to western states like Rajasthan in search of employment. 

They were apprehended while attempting to return to Bangladesh.

A case was filed against the group in Ranaghat Subdistrict Court, and they have since been placed in police remand.

In a separate incident on Thursday (May 8), nine more Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Dasnagar, Uttar Dinajpur. 

The men, all from Narsingdi district in Bangladesh, were reportedly returning from Rajasthan, where they had been working as labourers for over a year. They were handed over to local police for legal proceedings.

SMS/