SHILLONG, JAN 20: In a major crackdown, police in West Jaintia Hills district apprehended 18 Bangladeshi nationals, five drivers, and two Indian touts during a coordinated operation conducted in the early hours of Tuesday.

Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanao said a special team of the West Jaintia Hills police, assisted by the headman and Village Defence Party (VDP) of Demthring village, carried out the operation around 3 am on January 20. During the operation, four Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended along with a vehicle driven by Vishal Dkhar of Dawki, which was chased from Lad Demthring and intercepted near Sanmala Guest House, Amlarem.

During the same operation, police also detained two Indian touts — Meban Dkhar and Melari Rasmut — from Lad Demthring along with their vehicle bearing registration number ML-04D-4739.

Further investigation revealed that three more vehicles transporting Bangladeshi nationals were travelling from Jowai towards Dawki. Acting on the input, police set up a naka checking point at Amlarem market, where three vehicles were intercepted. These included vehicle ML-05AD-6424, driven by Blessing Pamthied of Jarain village, ML-04D-4993, driven by Twel Rongngi of Shkentalang village, and ML-04E-0640, driven by Rimi Lyngdoh of Shkentalang village.

The three vehicles were found ferrying 14 Bangladeshi nationals.

“As a result of the operation, 18 Bangladeshi nationals, two Indian touts and five drivers were apprehended, and five vehicles were seized,” Dhanao said. He added that a case has been registered under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and all those involved have been taken into custody for further legal action.

Reiterating the police’s commitment to border security, the SP urged village headmen and VDPs to continue assisting law enforcement agencies.

“We earnestly request all headmen and VDPs across the district to come forward and actively assist the police in preventing crime and safeguarding our communities,” he said.