On a quiet morning near the Baingdubi Army Camp in Bagdogra, West Bengal, local villagers spotted a man acting suspiciously. His name is Ashraful Alam, a 42-year-old from Bangladesh’s Rangpur district. What seemed like a routine arrest of an illegal immigrant quickly turned into a national security alert when Alam claimed to be a former intelligence agent from Bangladesh.
Alam’s detention on May 10, 2025, revealed a startling truth—he had been living undetected in India for six months, crossing the porous Rajshahi border river without documents. His case exposes critical gaps in India’s border surveillance, especially amid escalating tensions with Pakistan and rising cross-border crime.
Who Is Ashraful Alam?
The Arrest That Exposed a Security Blindspot
Alam’s background is shrouded in contradictions:
- Alleged Spy or Desperate Migrant? While he insists he worked for Bangladeshi intelligence, officials are probing whether he fled political unrest or economic hardship. Recent arrests of nine Bangladeshis in Siliguri—who paid agents up to ₹1.1 lakh to cross via Islampur—highlight a thriving illegal migration network.
- The Journey: Alam entered India through the same riverine routes used by families escaping violence in Bangladesh. Unlike others who seek shelter in cities, he avoided urban hubs, likely relying on rural safehouses.
Why This Arrest Matters: Geopolitical Tensions
- India-Pakistan Standoff: Bagdogra is a strategic zone near China and Nepal. With India recently foiling a drone intrusion in Jammu and deploying RAF battalions in Siliguri after Charak festival violence, Alam’s arrest adds to regional unease.
- Bangladesh’s Unrest: After PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has seen rising instability. Over 300 Bangladeshis were arrested in India in 2024 alone, many claiming to flee persecution.
Six Months Undetected: How He Slipped Through
- Border Vulnerabilities:
- India’s 4,096-km border with Bangladesh includes unfenced sections in Tripura and riverine gaps in West Bengal. Alam exploited these, unlike the nine arrested in Siliguri who scaled barbed wires.
- Limited coordination between the BSF, state police, and agencies like the SSB allowed Alam to evade checks.
- Evasion Tactics:
- No Digital Trail: Unlike migrants using forged IDs or IMO apps, Alam avoided technology.
- Local Complicity? Police are investigating if he received shelter akin to Nirmal Majumdar, the Siliguri homeowner detained for harboring illegals.
Fallout and Reforms
- Immediate Actions:
- Alam faces Siliguri court proceedings, with police seeking remand to uncover potential espionage links.
- The SSB has intensified drone surveillance along the Nepal border after Bhutan deported four stateless refugees via Siliguri, revealing another smuggling route.
- Long-Term Solutions:
- Tech Upgrades: Tripura’s Mobile Task Force (MTF), which reduced illegal crossings by 40%, could be replicated in West Bengal.
- Community Vigilance: Bagdogra villagers’ alertness mirrors successes in Delhi’s “Operation Face Wash,” where locals helped detain 550+ illegals.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call
Ashraful Alam’s case isn’t just about one man—it’s a symptom of systemic flaws. As India faces hybrid threats from drones to spies, complacency isn’t an option.
Key Takeaways:
- Border fencing gaps and river routes need urgent attention.
- Local communities are critical in intelligence gathering.
- Geopolitical instability in Bangladesh demands tighter bilateral protocols.
“In security, every unchecked shadow is a potential threat,” says a senior BSF officer. Alam’s interrogation may reveal just how deep those shadows go.
