Bangladeshi national Mohammad Masood alias Mister has been ordered to leave Assam within 24 hours after completing a jail sentence for illegally entering India and damaging border infrastructure in South Salmara-Mankachar district. The expulsion order, issued by the district administration on August 14, 2026, is the latest action in a case involving illegal cross-border entry and a breach of security along the India-Bangladesh border.
Bangladeshi national convicted after border arrest
Masood, aged around 24, is a resident of Ratanpur village under Rowmari police station in Bangladesh’s Kurigram district. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel apprehended him in the Jordanga Border Outpost (BOP) area on January 13, 2026, after he allegedly entered Indian territory illegally.
Following his apprehension, he was handed over to Mankachar Police Station for further legal action. Police registered Mankachar Police Station Case No. 07/2026, corresponding to PRC No. 53/2026.
The case was registered under Section 324(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 21 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and Section 3(1) of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. The charges covered the alleged illegal entry and damage to public property connected with the border area.
Court sentences Masood to concurrent jail terms
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate of South Salmara-Mankachar convicted Masood on July 21, 2026. The court awarded one month of simple imprisonment under the BNS provision, seven months under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, and three months under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. The court also allowed the period already spent in detention to be set off against the sentence.
The Bangladeshi national completed his sentence on August 12. After his release from District Jail, Dhubri, he was shifted to the Matia Holding Centre in Goalpara district. The transfer was made to facilitate further proceedings for his deportation or repatriation to Bangladesh.
Assam issues 24-hour expulsion order
After the jail term ended, the Senior Superintendent of Police (Border), South Salmara-Mankachar, requested the district administration to issue an expulsion order.
Acting on the request, the District Magistrate issued the order on August 14 under Section 2(b) of the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950. The directive requires Masood to leave Assam within 24 hours of receiving the order.
The administration has specified the South Salmara-Mankachar/Dhubri route for his exit. The order states that his removal from India will be carried out through the competent authorities for lawful deportation or repatriation to Bangladesh. Failure to comply could result in further action under the 1950 Act and other applicable laws.
Border security remains a key concern
The case comes amid heightened attention to illegal movement along Assam’s international border with Bangladesh. South Salmara-Mankachar is a strategically important border district, and authorities have continued to strengthen surveillance and regulate movement in sensitive areas.
In February 2026, the district administration also issued an order restricting the movement of people along parts of the Indo-Bangladesh border between 6 pm and 6 am. The order cited the need to strengthen border security, prevent trans-border smuggling and help the BSF monitor activities in the area.
The district has also witnessed recent cases involving suspected illegal cross-border movement. In June, nine people were reportedly stranded in the no-man’s-land area along the India-Bangladesh border while authorities worked to verify their nationality. The incident highlighted the practical difficulties involved in determining nationality and completing repatriation procedures when documentation is unclear.
Deportation process to follow legal procedure
The latest order separates the criminal punishment from the subsequent immigration action. Masood has completed the sentence imposed by the local court, while the district administration is now taking steps for his removal from India.
Authorities have also been directed to complete the necessary identification and documentation procedures before the handover. The process is expected to involve coordination between Indian authorities and the relevant authorities in Bangladesh.
The case also reflects Assam’s wider enforcement approach toward foreign nationals found to have entered the state illegally. In recent months, district administrations have issued expulsion orders under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 against people declared foreigners or otherwise found liable for removal.
For Masood, the next stage is therefore his lawful transfer through the designated border route after the completion of the required administrative and security procedures. The case underscores the continued focus of Assam authorities on illegal entry, border protection and the repatriation of foreign nationals after criminal proceedings are completed.
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