In a startling case of mistaken identity and administrative oversight, four Indian citizens — three from Murshidabad district and one from Bardhaman in West Bengal — were brought back to India on Monday, June 16, after being wrongfully pushed into Bangladesh by the Border Security Force (BSF).

The individuals were earlier detained by the Maharashtra Police on suspicion of being undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.

The West Bengal police confirmed that after local verification, the citizenship of the four men was established and necessary documents, including proof of identity and residence, were submitted to the BSF.

In a statement, Murshidabad district police said, “Later, BSF conducted urgent flag meeting today with BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and finally brought all four individuals from Bangladesh and handed them over to Coochbehar police on Indian side just few hours ago. A team from Murshidabad district police has already been dispatched to bring them back. All four individuals are expected to return home safely by tomorrow.”

The four individuals have been identified as Mehbub Sheikh, Nazimuddin Mondal, Minarul Sheikh, and Mostafa Kamal Sheikh. Of them, Mehbub Sheikh’s case drew particular attention.


Despite his family submitting all necessary documents — including a voter ID, Aadhaar card, ration card, and a certified family tree — to the Maharashtra police, he was handed over to the BSF, which in turn pushed him into Bangladesh in the early hours of June 14.

Sheikh, a 36-year-old resident of Hossainnagar village in Mahisasthali gram panchayat of Bhagabangola, Murshidabad, had been working in Maharashtra for the past two years.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Mujibur said, “For the past two years, he has been working in Maharashtra. He used to stay in the Mira Road area of Thane near Mumbai. Five days ago (Wednesday, June 11), while he was having tea, police picked him up, suspecting him to be a Bangladeshi, and took him to Kanakia police station.”

Samirul Islam, chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, strongly criticised the handling of the case.

“After Sheikh’s family approached us, we contacted the Maharashtra Police. All the (required) documents were sent to them. They didn’t even bother to inform the West Bengal government, and Sheikh was pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF,” he told the newspaper.

According to Mujibur, Sheikh called his family from across the border on June 14 and told them he had been pushed into Bangladesh at 3:30 am. “He was crying and said he had taken shelter in a village from where he managed to make the call,” Mujibur recounted.

In its defence, Maharashtra Police claimed that Sheikh failed to produce acceptable documents to prove his citizenship, stating that Aadhaar and PAN cards are not considered valid for determining nationality.

This incident comes against the backdrop of a nationwide crackdown on suspected undocumented migrants, particularly in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. In recent weeks, hundreds of individuals have reportedly been sent across the eastern border under India’s "push back" policy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh had earlier raised concerns over the practice. In a letter dated May 8, Dhaka urged New Delhi to follow established repatriation protocols, warning that arbitrary pushbacks undermine bilateral cooperation and violate international norms.

This case has reignited debate on due process, human rights, and the risk of wrongful deportations amid ongoing nationwide efforts to identify undocumented immigrants.