25 foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE detained for illegal stay in Bihar

Security agencies have detained 25 foreign nationals staying illegally in India from Bihar’s East Champaran district during 2025, officials said after a review of security conditions along the India–Nepal border .

The detainees include citizens of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates . Authorities said the concerned countries have been informed about the detention through official channels. The development came to light during a high-level review meeting chaired by Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit in Raxaul on Saturday, which focused on border management and security issues in the region.

Senior officials including Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar , the district magistrate, superintendent of police, sub-divisional officers, district land acquisition officer and personnel from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) attended the meeting.

Officials said that between 2022 and 2026, security agencies recorded 22,500 cases of liquor smuggling in the border areas. During the same period, 779 cases of arms smuggling led to 1,179 arrests . Authorities also seized counterfeit currency worth Rs 54.64 lakh in ten cases.

The review also highlighted 41 cases of illegal foreign infiltration in the district, with 25 foreign nationals apprehended in 2025 alone . Officials said the incidents underline persistent concerns about cross-border movement along the porous frontier .

Along the 114.54-km-long India–Nepal international border in East Champaran, a total of 1,237 boundary pillars have been installed, of which 931 are in safe and clearly identifiable condition . Authorities found 73 pillars damaged and said joint inspections and monitoring mechanisms have been arranged to address the issue.

Officials further said 121 encroachments near boundary pillars were identified on both sides of the border, of which 117 have been removed , while action in the remaining cases is underway. In addition, 34 encroachments within a 15-km belt in Raxaul and Sikarhana were detected, and four unauthorised religious structures in the no-man’s land were identified.