723 infiltrators held on Bangladesh border in Bengal till July: Government

NEW DELHI: As many as 723 illegal infiltrators were apprehended on the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal till July this year, compared with 1,694 in 2024 and 1,547 in 2023, the home ministry informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Replying to a question, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said seizures of narcotics have risen to 5,729 kg in the first seven months of 2025 from 3,145 kg in 2024 and 4,988 kg in 2023. However, the seizure of cattle along the India-Bangladesh border was down to 2,886 till July 31 this year, from 8,648 and 8,614 in 2024 and 2023 respectively.

Seizure of gold is also much lower this year, with a little less than 21 kg recovered till July 31, compared with 188 kg in 2024 and 166 kg in 2023. The face value of fake Indian currency notes recovered this year (till July) was Rs 7.4 lakh, as compared to Rs 32.4 lakh in 2024 and Rs 15.8 lakh in 2023.

The junior home minister told the Rajya Sabha that nearly 1,648km of the 2,217km international border in West Bengal has been fenced. Of the remaining 569km, 456km is feasible for fencing. Land acquisition is yet to be initiated for 149 km by the state govt.

Around 181km of land, for which payment has already been made, is yet to be handed over by the state.