3,518 illegal immigrants detained, 2,739 pushed back in last 3 years: Tripura CM
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday told the state Assembly that security agencies have detained a total of 3,518 illegal immigrants over the past three years and 2,739 of them had been pushed back to their respective countries.
He made the statement in response to a calling-attention notice moved by TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma.
Sharing a break-up of the data, the Chief Minister said, “In 2022, a total of 965 Bangladeshis and 17 Rohingya migrants were detained; in 2023 as many as 1,014 Bangladeshis and 58 Rohingyas were detained. In 2024, a total of 947 Bangladeshis and 60 Rohingyas were detained. In the current year till August 2025, a total of 390 Bangladeshis and 16 Rohingyas were detained. Apart from them, six Nigerians and four people from France who entered the state unlawfully were detained.”
The Chief Minister also informed the House that a total of 2,739 people had been pushed back in the last three years.
“In 2022, a total of 894 Bangladeshis and 17 Rohingyas were pushed back. In 2023, 596 Bangladeshis and 61 Rohingyas were pushed back. In 2024, 676 Bangladeshis and 14 Rohingyas were pushed back, and till 31 August 2025 the security agencies pushed back 441 Bangladeshis and 40 Rohingyas to their own countries. The total stands at 2,739,” he added.
The Chief Minister said the state has adopted a three-layered, multi-agency approach to secure Tripura’s 856 kilometre border with Bangladesh, with the Border Security Force forming the first line of defence.
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He said all eight districts now have STFs (Special Task Forces) working closely with BSF and that 129 officials have been actively posted for detection and deportation drives.
Saha told the House that enhanced surveillance in railway stations, airports and bus stands, fortnightly virtual meetings chaired at SP and DM level, frequent look-out circulars and regular uploads of biometric and identification data to central portals have been introduced to prevent misuse of forged documents.
“A biometric registration portal known as the Foreigner Identification Portal was launched on 2 May 2025. The BSF is handling identification records and biometric uploads to help fast-track verification and repatriation,” he added.
Saha acknowledged legal constraints around push-back operations and said enforcement is carried out “considering the legal complications”, with foreign nationals produced before courts, processed through social welfare and education authorities where necessary.
“We have a state-level detention centre at Narsingarh. It has a capacity to accommodate 50 persons. Right now, we have 95 illegal immigrants there. Out of them, 88 are Bangladeshis, four are Nigerians and the rest are other Africans,” said Dr Saha.
According to the Chief Minister, due to collective efforts, a message has been delivered to the state’s human trafficking rackets that Tripura is no longer “a safe corridor” for illegal immigrants.
The MLA in his response requested the Chief Minister to set up detention centres in all districts.
Assuring the House that all possible steps were being undertaken, the Chief Minister said, “After the political turmoil struck the neighbouring country on August 05, 2024, I convened a meeting of security agencies operating in Tripura. I urged all the agencies to work cohesively to make sure that not a single illegal immigrant can enter the state. It is the same instruction that I have received from the Centre.”