In a major action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, the Islampur police nabbed 13 individuals, including 12 Bangladeshi nationals, from Char Gopalpur village under Hurshi Gram Panchayat in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal on 28th November.
One Indian among the arrestees, identified as Saber Ali (31), had given shelter to the 12 Bangladeshi nationals, named Md Awal (25), Abdul Khaleque (38), Suman Ali (30), Sukuddin (26), Khabir (19), Sahidul (35), Md Sabbir (22), Md Jiarul Houque (38), Majdar Ali (36), Md Khairul (27), Md Roni (23), and Ruhul Amin (34). All the Bangladeshi nationals were found staying without any valid travel documents.
All the accused will be produced before the Additional District Judge, Lalbagh Civil, Murshidabad, on 29th November. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions, and an investigation is underway. The police are reportedly seeking 10-day custody for three of the accused.
Murshidabad, West Bengal | On 28 November, acting on secret source information, the Islampur police team apprehended 13 persons from Char Gopalpur Village under Hurshi Gram Panchayat. Among them, one Indian national, Saber Ali (31), was found providing shelter to 12 Bangladeshi… pic.twitter.com/saiKFxbyOG
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2025
Muslim Bangladeshi infiltrators are the vote bank of the TMC: Suvendu Adhikari
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and BJP MLA from Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari, accused the TMC government in the state of harbouring illegal Bangladesh nationals and using them as its vote bank. Adhikari said that the reason the ruling TMC is opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal is that it will use Bangladeshi Muslims, dead voters and fake voters in the upcoming assembly elections. He added that the 60-70 lakh votes in the name of fake voters, Bangladeshi and Muslim infiltrators and even dead voters, went to the TMC in the previous election.
#WATCH | Kolkata: West Bengal LoP and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari says, "TMC wants to include infiltrators, dead voters, and fake voters in the voter list; that's their vote bank. Otherwise, TMC's 45.67% vote share would drop to 30%. They have taken votes from at least 60-70 lakh… pic.twitter.com/oSxZUsVkKo
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2025
“TMC wants to include infiltrators, dead voters, and fake voters in the voter list; that’s their vote bank. Otherwise, TMC’s 45.67% vote share would drop to 30%. They have taken votes from at least 60-70 lakh dead voters, fake voters, Bangladeshi and Muslim infiltrators, so out of fear, they are demanding a stay on SIR. This happened in Bihar too, but the Supreme Court did not stay SIR… This is nothing new…This (SIR) should happen,” Adhikari said.
Notably, after the Election Commission announced the dates for SIR in West Bengal, several videos surfaced on social media, showing illegal immigrants from Bangladesh roaming in groups near border checkposts in West Bengal. Earlier this month, at least 48 Bangladeshi infiltrators were arrested for attempting to cross the border back into Bangladesh from West Bengal‘s North 24 Parganas district. According to BSF officials, the detained infiltrators were trying to return to Bangladesh due to fear of detention or deportation after the SIR process commenced.
Interestingly, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has been openly opposing the SIR exercise in the state despite the Supreme Court, prima facie, holding that the Election Commission is empowered to conduct it for the updation of electoral rolls. Banerjee’s opposition of the SIR lends credence to the accusations levelled by Adhikari.